Saturday in the Yard - Some Dan Tobyne Pictures

Late afternoon shadow of Harold

Harold putting the tenon in place.

It's a stretch

Dan Tobyne really does nice work and these pictures really should not be sitting in his files but need to be seen. Thanks again, Dan, for giving up your time - coming down between your daughter's soccer games and other committments - to shoot.  You do great work!

Essex-Built Schooner Ernestina Needs Your Voice

The Essex-built schooner Ernestina - a forum about her future

We had a request from the good people of New Bedford and the Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey Association to let people know about an important forum to discuss the future of our national historic landmark the Ernestina. As some of you know, in 2008/09 Harold was involved in a massive re-build of the Ernestina's front section but the stern is still in need of a lot of repair as well as the cost of ongoing operations. The forum - to be held on Saturday, October 30 at the New Bedford Whaling Museum offers a great chance to get momentum going and also take a moment to have some input on the future of Ernestina. Here is some of the pertinent info.

Ernestina Forum

The Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey Association is holding a forum to discuss Ernestina's future and seeks:
· People from a broad array of constituencies interested in working together in the interest of the Ernestina's future;
· New ideas to help keep the ship sailing;
· Inspired individuals ready to describe how their ideas can be organized into plans to sustain the ship's restoration and operation.

Saturday, October 30th
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
New Bedford Whaling Museum
Pre-registration is required and space is limited.
Barbara (Monteiro) Burgo
bjmonteiro@aol.com
or
Kristen Sarkarati
ks@blueskiesdsn.com

Co-sponsors:

The Schooner Ernestina Commission
The MA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park

Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey Association, Inc
P.O. Box 2995
New Bedford, MA 02741

FRAME UP!

Shout is heard for FRAME UP!

First Frame Going up...

Frame is VERY heavy!

It was a great day in Essex and at the Burnham yard yesterday during the FRAME UP event . Many volunteers help to raise three frames with only about 22 frames more to go! But, the outpouring of interest and support was inspiring and many visitors had a chance to sign the keel and get up close and personal as they gathered in the barn to watch the men drive trunnels into the futtocks and haul the frame out to the resting keel. There are many people to thank but to name a few we would like to thank Chuck Redman,  his gal Patty, Andy Spinney, Pierre Erhard, Davis Griffith, Steve Willard, young Zack Teal and his cousin, Jeff Lane, Francis Cleary, Bill Cronin , Steven and Tom Hastings and the folks at Essex shipbuilding Museum and many others!. Great work everyone!

A view from the dock to the barn of the first frame

The crowd was great and three frames went up!

February Will Be a Busy Month

We have lots of news for February and unfortunately Janaury came and went without too many postings and yet there was plenty of news. We also had our post holiday party in late January which is an annual tradition that started way back and was formerly held at the Waterline Center at the Essex shipbuilding museum. It evolved into a party at the barn and has now stretched into the house and aboard the Pinky Maine where we stash the rum.  Harold has been really working on a number of projects that will be included in an upcoming post. In the meantime, we will find out tomorrow on Ground Hogs Day how long the winter will continue..we hope to get the Maine moving again out of the creek so we assume the groundhog will let us know how much longer we have to wait.

No Man's Land boat gets a new set of sails

Geoff Gordon was here this a.m. putting the masts away on his No Man's Land boat. This boat was finished by Dave Brown and volunteers at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum (http://www.essexshipbuildingmuseum.org/) in 2004 and Geoff and his wife, Therese Sellers won it in a raffle  The two have been sailing around Cape Ann ever since.  They brought their boat here for a new, larger, set of sails. We built the first set in 2004. We are having a good time working with them planning their new rig.