John Dunn, 19th Century Sportsman

Text by Tom Doyle

Images from Maine Historical Society

During the late 19th century, as America became more urban and industrialized and fewer workers were self-employed or self-sufficient, many of the new middle class worried about the effects of office jobs, of urban pollution and other modern ills.

To restore themselves and to test their acumen in the out-of-doors, men and women alike flocked to places like the Maine woods.

They could live more rustic existences and experience the thrills and challenges of hunting, fishing, hiking and canoeing -- if only for a brief vacation.

To recover from illness and to regain stamina, Dunn frequently visited Maine between 1885 to 1904, hunting, fishing, paddling and taking photographs.

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