Boston was known for a lot of things at the turn of the century, but fly fishing was probably not one of those things. Fly fishing on the Thames River wasn’t likely a destination vacation. This photograph features a handsome gentleman who appears dressed for an adventure. He is wearing a hat with fishing lures hooked into it. He is also wearing a tie, tucked into his shirt. The gentleman was photographed by McCormick, who had a studio located in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Directory (1873) lists a John L. McCormick who operated as a photographer in Boston. The 1880 United States Census finds McCormick (age 32)living in Boston and married to Elizabeth McCormick (age 26). He is listed as a photographer. The 1900 census does not list his occupation but reports that the couple were living with their five children and an eighteen year-old female servant (nanny?). The 1910 census includes McCormick, but once again, does not list his occupation.
Buy this Vintage Cabinet Card photograph (includes shipping within the US) #5183
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Buy this Vintage Cabinet Card photograph (includes shipping outside the US) #5183
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THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 
Great picture and a nice explanation. I really like your posts – an your pictures!
I had to ask my dad – he is an avid fly fisherman – he says the fly with the white feather in the center of the hat is a very old pattern. The sport goes back a long way, to about 1500 England apparently! Who knew?
I found this post looking for McCormick’s first name because I’m editing an article for the New England Journal of Photo History about the guys who took over his studio at 22 Winter Street in Boston. Since you led me to his full name, I thought I’d return the favor and share what I know about McCormick’s story between the 1880 and 1900 census. An ad in the Boston Herald on Sept. 22, 1889 indicates his studio was taken over by Fred Dunshee and Frank Maxfield, so he may have retired.
Thank you for the additional information regarding John McCormick. Please note that the cabinet card gallery has two photographs by an Edward Sidney Dunshee. One comes from a Philadelphia studio while the other was taken at a Boston studio. I wonder if E. S. Dunshee was related to Fred?