What’s light pink and covered with hot pink polka dots, carries people around on the Charles on its back all day, and spends its nights in Fields Corner?
Give up?
The answer is Dorchester Dottie, the second most recent addition to the Boston Duck Tours (BDT) fleet of refurbished WWII amphibious vehicles or DUKWs, famous for hauling out-of-towners and national sports champions around the city.
With a color scheme reminiscent of a giant wad of bubblegum with measles, Dorchester Dottie is one of three just-added DUCKs. Like her new sister Annie Aquarium, she has an alliterative name akin to those of elder siblings Back Bay Bertha and North End Norma. The third vessel has the tourist-stumping moniker of “Espla Nadia,” which harkens back to the punny names of older boats like Faneuil Holly, Beacon Hilda and Longfellow Bridget.
These three are among the first sightseeing vehicles to be licensed in the city since a moratorium on adding new ones was imposed in 1998 because of concerns about congestion around Big Dig construction.
According to Bob Schwartz, BDT Asst. Director of Marketing & Sales, “Boston Duck Tours has been a neighbor in Dorchester for the past 11 years with the main ‘nest’ (garage facility) for the flock of DUCKs in Dorchester. Over these years, Boston Duck Tours has strived to be a responsible, generous and active community leader within Dorchester. Dorchester Dottie’s fun, unique design reflects the favorite nickname for one of Boston’s most beloved neighborhoods, ‘Dot,’ and celebrates the amazing people of this great neighborhood.”
“Our garage is located on Sturtevant Street in Fields Corner.” Schwartz adds, “We moved the garage from East Boston to Dorchester in 2000.”
The trail of DUCKS are a familiar sight on Dot Ave, Columbia Road, and Mass Ave. as they troop to their downtown pick-up points in the morning and come home to roost in the evening.
On the morning of May 31, this year, BDT held a christening ceremony for Dottie in front of the John P McKeon Post on Hilltop Street prior to the Memorial Day parade. City Councilor Maureen Feeney did the honors.
Locals seemed to have noticed her wild color scheme rather than her name when she appeared this June in her first Dorchester Day Parade. This past Saturday morning Dottie was parked outside the Ashmont Grill for kids and families to explore as they lunched on (among other items) duck kebabs. A portion of the funds raised at this event were donated to Quack, Quack, Give Back, BDT’s charitable wing that supports Boston Public Library children’s programs.
Future local appearances will include one at the Kit Clark Road Race along the Neponset on Sunday, September 25.
