It's been 30 years since Cecil Pierce passed and 120 years since his birth, yet many of his accomplishments linger. The stories about Cecil’s accomplishments and activities are too numerous to mention, especially since my contact with him was quite limited. I knew about Cecil and have seen products of his creation, but I think there are many other people, especially here on Southport, who would be far more knowledgeable than I. Needless to say, Cecil Pierce was a pretty unique individual ... emphasis on individual! He built his own roads and traveled them without hesitation.

I made the photograph of Cecil shared this week after a few visits and conversations regarding a tilt top table he had built by hand with tools he’d made. He needed a photo of the table and an author photo. Uncle Ralph Spinney, noted Southport electrician and outdoorsman, knew Cecil well and figured we’d get along OK. Cecil wasn’t wild about the idea of a “portrait” but gave me a brief opportunity at his home shop for a few photos. I also did get the call to photograph his table once I had passed the congeniality test.

I recall making the photograph quite vividly. At the time we still were living in the Harbor and I didn’t have much of a “studio” space. So I threw together a makeshift setup in the alleyway next to our house with some materials I could dig up. It worked out but probably could have been better managed with a more professional environment. Cecil liked the photos well enough or at least he was OK with the results and didn’t say anything.

My visit to his house/shop was like walking into a museum of tools, wood, ongoing projects and a space clearly personal. I was amazed but Cecil was rather matter of fact about all the projects he had underway at the time. There were planks of beautiful wood, bamboo for fishing rods and tools everywhere. I had not realized the range of talents this man possessed.

And this was only a glimpse. Prior to our visit in the early ’90s, Cecil had not been asleep at the wheel. He built boats, very famous fly rods, magnificent and wooden planes, still finding time to travel far and wide on fishing trips with friends.

Cecil at his workbench made a pretty interesting composition. I didn’t have much to say about where his portrait would happen. He sat on a stool at his bench and that was it. Not a whole lot of messing around; he had things to do. One of those things happened to be the establishing of what is now Southport’s Hendricks Hill Museum. The building was given by one Perry Luke provided it could be moved to its present location. Cecil was an instrumental contributor to this process which eventually landed the building right next door to where Cecil eventually lived. One thing I did read on the Historical Society webpage is that Cecil and Maurice Sherman hand-built the classic museum windows using an old window found in the house attic, giving them a pattern for the muntins used to frame salvaged old glass. 

I could go on, but I won’t. Except I do need to mention Cecil’s unique fly rods. I guess he was quite famous for his bamboo/graphite designs. I don’t know much about fly fishing but I have learned that those who do have great respect for and interest in the rods that Cecil created. I do recall during a visit fine strips of bamboo which I couldn’t imagine capable of catching anything let alone the big salmon prize!

I was pleased to visit with Cecil from time to time and was completely amazed by his abilities. He was an interesting person and a loyal Southporter.