The Motor Ship Mount Washington

[John A. Birdsall]

Back in 1958, my brother and I allowed my father to drive the puddy-tat and we went to the weirs. We were leaving the public docks and got caught behind the Mount (perhaps on Porpus) but the churning of the water made the mighty Puddy-tat go in circles.

For the younger generation let me say that the Mount did not go to Alton Bay without an escort, I am sure that Capt Lavalle (something like that) did not like that little black bug all that much. Sometimes we might have even got in the way.

But before they lengthened the Mount by 20' it had large wake and there were many a times that the little black boat would jump out of the water behind the mount. Today I am sad to say that they have outlawed that, and it was a lot of fun. I am and was very surprised that the wake of the mount was reduced after they lengthened it. I wonder if the new power plant will bring any of the wake back.