Maine Memory Network

Historic Hallowell - Ship Parts

"Sails were made by long, thin strips of cloth that were woven together by hand (until the invention of the sewing machine.) Anchors were commonly…"

Historic Hallowell - Hallowell Ship Captains

"For more that forty years, Agry sailed from Boston to England, France, and Mediterranean ports.  Agry’s wife accompanied him on many of his voyages…"

Swan's Island: Six miles east of ordinary - Baird's Quarry history

"… Ringbolt Ledge, till they could safely get their sails up and maneuver out of the harbor. Moving granite from the quarry to the dock, Swan's…"

Scarborough: They Called It Owascoag - Maritime Tales: Shipyards and Shipwrecks - Page 1 of 2

"… sailed to the Grand Banks fishing grounds; and ships sailed to England, the West Indies and other trading ports."

Scarborough: They Called It Owascoag - Maritime Tales: Shipyards and Shipwrecks - Page 2 of 2

"… the Maine Coast, the ship was the largest wooden sailing ship ever wrecked off the Maine coast. Wreck of the "Washington B."

Scarborough: They Called It Owascoag - Historical Overview - Page 2 of 4

"While a new fort was built at the western side of Garrison Cove, the settlers lived aboard their ship."

Swan's Island: Six miles east of ordinary - Quarrying

"Boats under sail (in the 1890s) or steam boats, soon thereafter, would come into Burnt Coat Harbor and collect brick sized cut stone."

Swan's Island: Six miles east of ordinary - Island Postmistresses

"… Desert and was brought to this island when a sail boat chanced to visit those places This was very inconvenient to the settlers and often the…"

Swan's Island: Six miles east of ordinary - Lobstering

"Steamboats were replacing the sailed boats and thus were better able to get the fresh catch to the markets in a timely manner."

Maine's Road to Statehood - The Coasting Law of 1789

"… Maine was a district of Massachusetts, a ship sailing south from Maine would not have to port until New Jersey; once separated, Maine vessels would…"

Scarborough: They Called It Owascoag - Catch of the Day: Clamming and Lobstering - Page 3 of 4

"A smack was a small sailing vessel with an open holding well with holes drilled into it to allow circulation of seawater."

Surry by the Bay - History of Surry

"… the 17th century, when potential settlers first sailed up the pretty little bay searching for a safe harbor to start a new life."

Islesboro--An Island in Penobscot Bay - Early Settlements

"At one time he owned more wooden sailing vessels than anyone in the United States. There are several stories about how the settlement of Guinea…"

Islesboro--An Island in Penobscot Bay - Historical Overview

"His company then sailed to the larger island of Islesboro, encountered more French and natives who also fled by boat."

Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - Shipbuilding During and after the Civil War - 1861 to 1900

"Sail damage was guaranteed in the horrendous storms in passages around Cape Horn. The sail loft they built in 1875 still stands in its original…"

Historic Hallowell - Transportation Challenge

"Transfer to the ships was done at the granite wharf near the intersection of Water and Temples Streets."

Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - Shipbuilding Industry Expands - 1850 to 1857

"Sails were cut and sewn at the sail lofts of Washburn & Sons and William Campbell. Shipyard owners and builders, Robinson, McCallum and Counce, sold…"

Biddeford History & Heritage Project - RESOURCES

"Merchant Sail. Center Lovell, Me.: Fairburn Marine Educational Foundation, 1955. (S) Flagg, James Montgomery. Roses and buckshot. New York: G.P."

Historic Hallowell - Industrial Recources

"Ship's Caulking Tool KitDavistown Museum Early shipbuilding in Hallowell was quite different from modern shipbuilding today because of the tools…"

Historic Hallowell - Transportation

"Once the ship was at the dock, the cotton was brought up to the mill by horse and wagon. When the cotton was shipped out, they were brought to other…"

Highlighting Historical Hampden - War of 1812

"With great difficulty, he managed to sail his ship to Crosby’s Long Wharf in Hampden for repairs. Having taken Castine on September 1, 1814, British…"

Historic Hallowell - Shipbuilding

"… and huge quantities of cloth for the masts and sails. To construct the mast, they would get large wood and make a long and thick, pole-like object…"

Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - U.S. Flagship Hartford

"We set sail from Thomaston, Maine on October 5th. Our job is to attack Confederate ships and prevent them from trade."

Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - The End of Wooden Shipbuilding - 1910 to 1950

"… steam replaced wind power, most of the stately sailing ships were stripped of their spars and rigging and turned into barges for hauling coal and…"