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| Volume 102 Issue 1 | Spring/Summer 1996 |
MASSACHUSETTS SCHOONER ERNESTINA COMMISSIONN E W S L E T T E R |
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Ernestina’s teaching season began early this year with morning dockside programs during April and May for New Bedford fourth grade classes. Warmer weather brought dockside and underway programming in Boston involving both elementary and secondary schools. From May 27 through June 11, students and teachers from communities on Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard were aboard Schooner Ernestina, discovering, teaching and learning.
Ernestina expands her mission as an interdisciplinary educational resource while continuing in her role as a symbol of Cape Verdean-American heritage and New England regional maritime historical preservation and interpretation.
Membership and citizen involvement is widening as a growing number of coastal communities and school systems "discover" and take advantage of the full potential of all Ernestina can offer. From Cape Ann to Narragansett Bay, educators are not only using and supporting the ship’s quality curriculum offerings, but they are also experiencing Ernestina’s power of community and the authentic historical connections she embodies.
Through a grant provided by the Island Foundation, hundreds of fourth graders from all parts of the city took part in a joint Schooner Ernestina / New Bedford Whaling Museum program which ran from the last week in March through the first week in May. The curriculum, entitled "Working on the Water," was developed during winter months by educators from Ernestina and the Whaling Museum in conjunction with New Bedford teachers and administrators. Supplementary funding came from the Mass. Department of Education.
Reaction has been enthusiastic from participating New Bedford teachers: "...long over-due, incredibly important program," said fourth grade teacher, Emily Johns of the Winslow School. "The fishing heritage needs to be expanded in our teaching...[it is] such an important part of the history of our city and many of our students’ families."
The focus of "Working on the Water" is the comparison of two working vessels, both prime examples of their respective types, both famous in their own time: the salt bank fishing schooner EFFIE M. MORRISSEY, now known as Ernestina, and the whaling bark LAGODA, splendidly replicated and interpreted at the N.B.W.M. An engaging visit aboard the schooner is coupled with a workshop session at the museum "Working on the Water" is rich in hands-on activities for participants and leads students and their teachers into the consideration of many aspects of math, science, history, economics and, especially, comparative technologies.
Working on the Water has great value beyond its application in New Bedford. Nantucket Public Schools, utilizing their own Whaling Museum resources, used the curriculum to great advantage during Ernestina’s visit in May. Other localities find particular segments of "Working on the Water" engaging and productive. Both the technological elements of the material and the history/social science components have been put to good use by a variety of program participants.
As this past winter came and went, day after snowy day, plans were being laid to bring the ship to Cape and islands school children come springtime. The Community Foundation of Cape Cod (CFCC) extended grant funding allowing for the considerable groundwork needed for communication, and program development, scheduling and delivery.
In January and February, Schooner Ernestina presentations were given at curriculum meetings, teacher in-service conferences and PALMS gatherings. Concurrently, program information and requests for support were delivered to a host of possible Cape and islands funders in the private sector: corporate entities, financial institutions, large and small businesses and various service organizations.
As May flowers blossomed on Cape Cod, youngsters from Falmouth, Sandwich, Yarmouth, Dennis, Chatham, Harwich, Orleans, Nauset and Provincetown enjoyed dockside and underway activities aboard Ernestina. Teachers also benefited: an after-school staff development sessions took place at Dyer’s Dock in Woods Hole and later on both Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
Early June breezes carried Ernestina to harbors on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard for dockside and underway programs and PDP teacher workshops on both islands. The series ended with Vineyard fifth graders from the West Tisbury School sailing on Ernestina from Vineyard Haven to New Bedford. This was coordinated through the Educational Resource Center by ERC Director, Sam Sawyer, and partially funded by Tisbury Waterways, Inc.
Contributing to the support of these programs, in addition to the CFCC and the Mass. Dept. of Education, were the participating municipal school systems, Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., Bill Black Marine Agency, Inc., Parker’s Boat Yard, Mid-Cape Lions Club, Bourne-Sandwich Rotary Club, Yarmouth Rotary Club, the Friends of the Nantucket Public Schools and the Coffin School Trust.
Programs included not only class visits, but also public, open-ship events in Falmouth, Provincetown and Nantucket, where Ernestina became a feature of the annual Nantucket Harborfest. Footnote: Both islands saw Ernestina’s crewmembers welcomed to special evening events: there was a delicious cookout hosted by Martha’s Vineyard ERC Director, Sam Sawyer, and the special Cape Verdean hospitality of the Sons and Daughters of Nantucket.
The Boston Marine Society sponsorship of Schooner Ernestina programs in Charlestown for area school children has, for a second year, given hundreds of youngsters a unique waterfront and on-the-water life experience. Taking part in Ernestina’s on board programs, these students, their teachers, administrators and many parents, found connections to core classroom subjects while making new discoveries regarding the waterfront, aquatic life, marine commerce and the extended Boston Harbor, from Charlestown out to the Harbor Islands.
School groups varied in age and background. Dearborne Middle Schoolers were first to arrive on Tuesday, May 14, for an underway program. For the next few days a parade of excited kids came to the ship at the Shipyard Quarters Marina. Shipyard Quarters extended every courtesy and accommodation to Ernestina and her crew throughout the Boston visit.
New activities this year included connections to the far side of the Harbor with dockside and underway programs involving Hull Public School students. In fact, twenty-one Hull High School physics students, led by their teacher, Ann Marcks, sailed for an overnight program among the Harbor Islands, where they lowered Ernestina’s dories for shore study and took turns through the night standing anchor watch. The Boston Harbor Islands State Park, part of DEM’s Division of Forests and Parks, represents a wonderful resource which Schooner Ernestina uses as often as possible during programming in the metro area.
On Saturday, May 18, 9am-5pm, an in-service teacher training workshop was conducted underway with several schools represented. A boatload of Boston Latin pupils came aboard with math teacher Orlene Fingerman for an underway program the following day.
Fifty elementary students walked to the ship from nearby Harvard-Kent School as did a like number of fourth graders from Warren-Prescott School. These Charlestown children, too young for Ernestina’s underway programs, found themselves fully involved, however, in the schooner’s various teaching stations during their dockside visits.
As a salute to the sponsorship of the Boston Marine Society and the hospitality of the Shipyard Quarters Marina and other supporters in Charlestown , the Schooner Ernestina staff hosted an informal reception on board the vessel on Tuesday, May 21.
During two evening sails, the Ernestina hosted, again for the second year, the Mass. State Science Fair Winners’ Sail. Arranged through Science Fair Director, Ellie Tischler, these events bring accomplished youngsters, often accompanied by their parents and/or teachers, from across the state to Charlestown for a most memorable evening.
Ernestina’s programs finished with underway programs for a group of forty students and teachers from South Boston High and a daysail with pupils from neighboring Chelsea High School.
This year’s program included new curriculum focusing on the fishing industry, comparative technologies and economics of the fisheries. This material was developed through the winter months in conjunction with education staff at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the Curriculum Development Office of the New Bedford Public Schools and other area educators through funding from the Island Foundation and the Mass. Dept. of Education (DOE).
Basic math, science and technology, as embodied in the design, construction and operation of the schooner, continues to be taught on board. The power of Ernestina’s 102 years as a working vessel, ever present during these programs, overlays all technical teaching and learning with overtones of history and sociology.
Environmental and water quality concepts and issues are especially important to the schooner’s teaching and learning when in Boston Harbor. This year the use of the Boston Harbor Islands as a resource gave a wider scope to the opportunities Ernestina can offer Boston area educators and their pupils
New Bedford Public Schools
Boston Public Schools
Hull Public Schools
Lawrence Public Schools
Provincetown Public Schools
Dennis-Yarmouth High School
Nauset High School
Harwich High School
Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools
Nantucket Public Schools
Falmouth Public Schools
Sandwich High School
The Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District in Taunton has recommended a capital improvement project proposal submitted for state administered federal funding by Schooner Ernestina staff. The project will complete ongoing hull upgrading, fabricate and install topmasts and upper sails and provide for ADA approved gangways to improve access to the ship from Tonnessen Park. Work is slated for the fall.
Consultants Alan Hankin, PhD, and Marshall Harris, interpretive designer, are working with Schooner Ernestina staff to inventory coastal educational resources, collate information and develop "An Expedition to the Water Planet," Ernestina’s daysail educational program and interpretive display.
Ernestina sails from seaports all along the Massachusetts coast. Thanks to funding from the MET, Department of Education (PALMS) and Department of Environmental Management, daysail programs for schools and other groups can be tailored to the locality, connect with existing watershed curricula and offer information so that citizens can get more involved with local water related environmental issues. Ernestina sets sail to discover and explore the marine world and to understand its importance in our day to day shoreside lives.
Schooner Ernestina is host to several in-service teacher training sessions as her educational outreach increases. Professional Development Points (PDPs) are being issued by Schooner Ernestina, as a DOE certified PDP provider, to participating colleagues.
Saturday, May 18, found the schooner underway in Boston Harbor for a full day program of multidisciplinary, hands-on activities for Boston area teachers. A similar 7-PDP day was provided S.E. Massachusetts educators on Saturday, June 22, sailing from Ernestina’s home port, New Bedford. Shorter, after-school workshops took place dockside in Woods Hole (4-6pm, May 29, 2 PDP) for Falmouth faculty, dockside on Nantucket (10am-noon, June 8, 2 PDP) and underway (3-6:30pm, June 10, 3 PDP) for Martha’s Vineyard staff and administrators.
Administrative, logistical and financial support for the Schooner Ernestina Commission, the schooner and her educational and public programs has come from many quarters within the government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The principal involvement and fiscal connection is with the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and its Dept. of Environmental Management (DEM). Within this agency many dedicated individuals have worked diligently to facilitate Ernestina’s preservation and operation as an important cultural entity. Peter Webber, Commissioner of Environmental Management, also serves on the Schooner Ernestina Commission. DEM is charged with the care and oversight of our commonwealth’s natural, cultural and historic resources.
Elected officials have also put mighty efforts into the complicated and unending work of Ernestina project support. Representative Antonio Cabral and Sen. Mark Montigny have been at the forefront of legislative action on behalf of base funding. Other New Bedford legislators who have worked on behalf of Ernestina are Rep. Joseph McIntyre, Rep. Robert Koczera, Rep. John Quinn and Rep. William Straus.
In the region and across the state, supportive legislators include Sen. Bruce Tarr, Sen. Michael Morrissey, Sen. Henri Rauschenbach, Sen. Robert Durand, Sen. Therese Murray and Sen. Robert Hedlund. Additional interest and effort has come from the House from Rep. Thomas Cahir, Rep. Eric Turkington, Rep. Stephen Tobin, Rep. Mary Jeanette Murray and Rep. Barbara Gray.
The state Dept. of Education (DOE) both supports and uses Schooner Ernestina, encouraging and helping educators across the state to take advantage of the ship for both student programs and teacher recertification workshops. Commissioner of Education Robert Antonucci is also a member of the Schooner Ernestina Commission. He is represented in Ernestina matters by his designee, John Braman.
The Mass. Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT), under the leadership of Director Mary Jane McKenna, is another natural partner within the Commonwealth structure. MOTT’s mission of promoting Massachusetts is well served by the historic vessel’s presence along the coastline and in Ernestina’s many ports of call. This season will find Ernestina a featured participant in the Nantucket Harborfest (June 8,9), the Lobsterfest in East Boston (July 3), Boston Harborfest and USS Constitution Turn-around Parade of Sail (July 4), Coastal Tall Ship Passage (Boston-New Bedford, July 5), Cape Verdean Independence Day in New Bedford (July 5), New Bedford’s Summerfest (July 5,6), Fall River Celebrates America weekend (Aug. 9-11) and Gloucester Schooner Race weekend (Aug. 31-Sept.1).
The Dept. of Youth Services continues this year with highly successful three-day underway programs for teenage participants. This programming is a prime example of inter-agency cooperation where an efficient and effective match is found between users and providers within the Commonwealth network.
On May 16, an afternoon reception was hosted by Schooner Ernestina Commission and DEM in Nurse’s Hall at the State House on Beacon Hill. In attendance were Undersecretary George Crombie of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, DEM Commissioner Peter Webber and Deputy Commissioner Peter Smith, Commissioner of Education Robert Antonucci and Rep. Antonio Cabral of New Bedford.
Ernestina Commission Chairman H. James Brown welcomed guests and Ernestina’s Executive Director Gregg Swanzey, Program Coordinator Tom Goux and DEM Project Coordinator Charles Gibson spoke with other legislators, legislative staffers and interested citizens of all ages about schooner programs, legislative support and expanding programming.
The Ernestina info-video was shown along with historic footage from the Arctic exploration era and the Ernestina slide show which features remarkable photos of the Cape Verdean packet years. A special Schooner Ernestina cake was prepared and decorated for the occasion by New Bedford’s Homelyke Bakeries.
The New Bedford Local Cultural Council provided a grant for development and presentation of a series of activities during Summerfest in New Bedford that highlight the fishing industry, honor our maritime heritage and explore our marine world.
Just imagine a 102 year old Essex-built Grand Banks Fishing schooner and a 113 year old Portuguese barkentine (Gazela of Philadelphia), one of the last of the Portuguese fleet to fish on the Greenland Banks, alongside in New Bedford, the leading fishing port. Imagine rowing out into the harbor by authentic Lunenberg dory and experiencing a scene out of the 19th century. Now look across the slip and observe the whole evolution of fisheries technology from doryman to side dragger, stern dragger, scallop dredge and seiner.
Come ashore and explore underwater life around an aquarium on Schooner Ernestina and participate in hands-on activities with her educational staff. Visit a touch tank in the City of New Bedford’s Waterfront visitors center in the Wharfinger Building (where the fish auction used to take place) and take a dockwalk tour of the waterfront with Ed Camara, director of the visitor’s center.
Next take in the Miracle Fish Puppet Theatre for a new show with larger than life puppets that tells the story of three mariners, the captain, the cook and the fisherman, who overcome their rivalry as they work together as a team to solve a problem that they, together, face.
For those looking for some technical information, Bob Rocha of the Coalition for Buzzards Bay and Steve Correia of the MA Division of Marine Fisheries have made some informational brochures available.
Finally, if you’d like to find out what it is like to don a survival suit and swim out to a liferaft, join in the Survival Suit Race pulled together by Mike Yorston at West Marine and Jim Kendall, director of the New Bedford Seafood Coalition.
Miracle Fish Puppet Theatre and the other activities described were supported, in part, by a grant from the New Bedford Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council during the New Bedford Summerfest, July 4th through 7th, 1996.
Island Foundation
Boston Marine Society
Mass. Dept. of Education
Mass. Dept. of Environmental Management
Mass. Environmental Trust
Mass. Dept. of Youth Services
Hildreth Stewart Charitable Foundation
New Bedford Local Cultural Council
Architectural Heritage Foundation
Wall Foundation
Community Foundation of Cape Cod
For more than a decade and a half, Ernestina has been supported by the homeport Cape Verdean-American community. Past Ernestina Commissioners Joli Gonsalves, Julius H. Britto and Nick Fernandes, of Wareham, and present Commission Vice Chairman Carl Cruz have given literally years of work to the survival and development of the Ernestina and her programs. The Ernestina/MORRISSEY Historical Association, often meeting at the Cape Verdean Gardens, has marshaled remarkable resources of time, treasure and effort on behalf of Ernestina. Prominent Cape Verdean-American leadership in that organization has included Val Almeida, Debbie Clark, Toni DePina and many others, including some of the aforementioned.
This past year Ernestina was involved in the welcoming of President Monteiro to New England and helped celebrate the grand reopening of the new Cape Verdean Ultra-marine Band and Club.
Schooner Ernestina staff participated in two major Cape Verdean cultural events this spring, sharing material about the ship’s program and visiting with a great number of friends of Ernestina in Pawtucket and Boston.
Long-time Ernestina volunteer crew member Jose "Big Joe" Andrade, along with Waltraud "Traudi" Coli, manned an Ernestina booth at the gala dedication of the Cape Verdean-American Community Development building, on High St., in Pawtucket, RI, on Sunday, May 26. The following Saturday, June 1, So Sabi: The 1996 New England Cape Verdean Folklife Festival, took place at the Boston Center for the Arts where Schooner Ernestina was also represented by deckhand/anthropologist/linguist Coli and the other Joe Andrade, "Little Joe" from New Bedford, who for several years has been a regular member of Ernestina’s professional crew. They showed the Schooner Ernestina info-video, and shared the good news about Ernestina’s activities along the coast, from Mt. Hope Bay to Gloucester Harbor.
Visiting New Bedford in June, Lawrence Benedict, the newly appointed American ambassador to the Republic of Cape Verde, came aboard Schooner Ernestina, along with Cape Verdean dignitaries. His schooner stop was followed by a reception at the Merchant Mariners Club.
Cape Verdean Independence Day, July 5, will see Schooner Ernestina leading a parade of tall ships into New Bedford Harbor between 5pm and 6pm. As the host vessel, she will be flying the flags of the Republic of Cape Verde and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as Old Glory. With more and more Massachusetts citizens of all ages and backgrounds come to Ernestina to learn and discover, the proud and exciting story of Cape Verdean-American immigration and culture will be a central part of her teaching.
The holiday week saw Tall Ships in New Bedford for Summerfest after Independence Day festivities in Boston Harbor and a Boston-to-New Bedford coastal passage. Led by New Bedford’s Schooner Ernestina, the Spirit of Massachusetts, HMS Bounty and Gazela of Philadelphia, sailed together in a series of activities that highlighted New England’s maritime heritage, emphasized the importance of the seaports to the Commonwealth and attracted people to New Bedford and the Summerfest.
On July 4th, the fleet could be viewed from ashore at Castle Island in Boston participating in the annual Turn Around of the USS Constitution, along with USS Salem, a heavy cruiser, and the destroyer Cassin Young in a spectacular event to honor WWII veterans. Next the four Tall Ships sailed in company along the Massachusetts coast leaving Boston at 3pm in the afternoon of July 4th enroute to Plymouth to anchor for an evening of fireworks in Warren Cove at 9pm. The ships transited the Cape Cod Canal between 12noon and 2pm on Friday, July 5th. The coastal passage finished with the ships sailing into New Bedford Harbor at 7pm on July 5th. All four vessels docked for a weekend of tours and activities at State Pier in New Bedford.
Under the leadership of the Summerfest Steering Committee chaired by Bill Kennedy, President and Publisher of the New Bedford Standard-Times, coordination by D.J. Walsh and Gregg Swanzey, co-chairs of the Waterfront Committee and overall festival management by Jim Mathes and Lisa Sughrue at the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce, the Tall Ship events were organized by the Schooner Ernestina office and staff, with funding through a grant from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. Sponsorship for the Tall Ship fleet was provided by Bank of Boston, St. Luke’s Hospital, the Standard-Times, Teledyne Rodney Metals and Acushnet Rubber.
Meetings in Boston to coordinate the Constitution Turn Around were called by Commander Michael Beck of the USS Constitution and Bill Foley, Supervisor of Interpretation for Boston National Historical Park. The Boston Pilots, US Coast Guard Boston Group, Boston Tug and Tow and representatives of the Tall Ship flotilla, organized by Gregg Swanzey, Director of Schooner Ernestina made up the committee to arrange the logistics. Dockage in Boston was arranged through MassPort and in collaboration with the East Boston Chamber of Commerce and the Courageous Sailing Center.
The Transit through the Cape Cod Canal and the transfer of participants by pilot boat for the final leg of the Coastal passage to New Bedford was facilitated with critical assistance from Frank Ciccone, Engineer in Charge at Canal Control, the Army Corps of Engineers, Dave Romer, Director of Marine Operations and George Benoit at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Ed Mathieu of Mathieu Marine in New Bedford and Larry Palmer of Northeast Marine Pilots.
The Schooner Ernestina came to dock at the Army Corps dock to board participants (among them Mayor Tierney of New Bedford) for the Parade of Sail. Others traveled from Massachusetts Maritime Academy by pilot boat to the other ships as they idled at "the Stakes" a staging area to the west of the Canal and further along in the west anchorage.
The Tall Ships sailed through the harbor entrance at 7pm on July 5th, docking at State Pier for the weekend with Bounty and Gazela leading the way and Ernestina making her grand entrance under full sail along with Spirit of Massachusetts. The visit of the fleet in New Bedford Harbor was facilitated by the efforts of Dave Rita, State Pier Manager, Marty Manley, Director of the Harbor Development Commission and Larry Chongarlides, New Bedford Harbor Master. Accommodation for the festival by businesses including Maritime Terminals, Portuguese American Lines, New Bedford Ship Supply, Pier Oil and the Fishing Fleet of New Bedford as well as the US Coast Guard Fleet based in New Bedford was important for success.
The captains of the ships, Jeff Stone, Schooner Ernestina, Ken Neal, Spirit of Massachusetts, Ann Cleaver, Gazela of Philadelphia and Robin Walbridge, HMS Bounty, worked together to welcome aboard a host of participants and visitors. The visiting crews from Boston (Spirit of Massachusetts), Fall River (HMS Bounty) and Philadelphia (Gazela) enjoyed the hospitality of Schooner Ernestina crew, staff and member/volunteers as well as the Summerfest team while in New Bedford.
The New Bedford Standard-Times
New Bedford Chamber of Commerce
St. Luke’s Hospital
COM/Electric
Nynex
Cellular One
Bank of Boston
Brandt Point
Teledyne Rodney Metals
Acushnet Rubber
BayBank
Colonial Wholesale Beverage
Newport Creamery
New Bedford Local Cultural Council
Mass. Office of Travel and Tourism
Boston National Historical Park
Bill Foley & staff, Charlestown Navy Yard dockage
USS CONSTITUTION
Commander Michael Beck, Staff & Crew
Turn-around Sail Logistics/Hospitality
MassPort
Black Falcon Terminal & Pier No. 1, E. Boston
East Boston Chamber of Commerce
Harpoon’s Festival on Boston Harbor
-Hospitality/Logistics
Shining Sea Foundation
Russ Tryder - Harpoon’s Festival Logistics
Shipyard Quarters Marina, Charlestown
Boston Schools Programs Dockage/Hospitality
U.S.Army Corps of Engineers -- Cape Cod
Canal
Frank Ciccone, Engineer in Charge
Northeast Marine Pilots
Capt. Larry Palmer / Coastal Sail Accommodations
Mass. Maritime Academy
Dr. Peter Mitchell, President, Capt. Dave Romer, Capt.
George Benoit, Capt. Rick Gurnan
Ed Mathieu ~ Mathieu Marine, Inc.
Dockage / Logistics
Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst.
Dockage/Logistics
Seaport Advisory Council
Rick Armstrong, Director
Nantucket Boat Basin
Dockage / Hospitality
MacMillan Wharf, Provincetown
Barry Clifford & Staff -- Dockage/Hospitality
Pemberton Pier, Hull
Packer Marine, Inc., Vineyard Haven
Dockage / Hospitality
Schooner Ernestina is "under a full press of canvas" with support from agencies of the Commonwealth, local legislative delegation, Mayor Tierney and the City of New Bedford and both public and private foundations as well as a growing membership. Some highlights of her support follow:
Ernestina survives only with a broad base of support. And fundraisers know that the key to fundraising is to start from the center and work outward. We applaud the public support and those individuals who have consistently been there with donations and volunteer effort as Ernestina has grown. This is the foundation and the core that allows us to stretch!
Respectfully,
Gregg Swanzey, Director
Jim and Cindy Bean & The Beans
Lenny Cabral
Story Teller Extraordinaire
Woods Hole Percussion
World Drumming
Dave and Cindy Peloquin & Wickford Express
Dan Lanier, Jacek Sulanowski & The Rum Soaked Crooks
Miracle Fish Puppet Theater
Vinnie Lovegrove & Friends
Member/volunteers involved in the operation and maintenance of Schooner Ernestina have been a steady source of support. Interested Ernestina member/volunteers are present and active on virtually every transit and on many educational program days during the busy spring and summer. This kind of personal support is all-important as Ernestina expands and thrives as a public resource ~ people helping through membership contributions then stepping into the scene and investing a bit of themselves in the development of this wonderful project. Keep your eyes on the Newsletter for member/volunteer opportunities and "step aboard!"
Marty Casey, Ernestina’s off-season bo’sun, was steadfast in giving the ship periodic attention as she lay dockside over this snowy winter. Aaron Macedo, a member of the professional Ernestina staff during the sailing season, but a donor of many volunteer hours in the off-months, likewise made sure lines were tended and pumps were run when need be. Mary Walsh lent a hand on office tasks and Scout Troop 52 put in some time and elbow grease. (on August 9 the Scouts will spend the day sailing Ernestina to the Fall River Celebrates America Festival!)
Steve Swift shipped on as a long-term volunteer deckhand/teacher this spring. Bob Marchand, recovering from a recent accident, is expected back later this season. Bob gave much effort, time and talent last year and we look forward to his return! Ken Cabral has been onboard in 1995 and this season as a professional crew member (Galley Commander), but he is also coordinating, on a volunteer basis, the interests and energies of Ernestina’s artistic friends. This task involves communicating with interested artists and musicians, pursuing arts funding and coordinating Ernestina’s arts activities with arts communities at the schooner’s various ports of call.
Shoreside, Louise and Joe Andrade continue to support schooner activities during festival and dockside events. We look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday, July 27, for a Membership Sail day (1pm-5pm) and/or Membership BBQ at Tonnessen Park in New Bedford (5pm-7pm). Grills will be provided; BYO picnic. This event is a chance for members to meet crew, other members and friends of Ernestina ~ and a great opportunity for all of us to invite new people to take advantage Ernestina membership!
Numerous individuals and institutions have helped support Schooner Ernestina this season. In each Newsletter we include a Thank You listing, hoping eventually to salute all who have assisted in so many ways!
| City
of New Bedford Mayor Rosemary Tierney Ed Camara, Dir.,Waterfront Visitor’s Center |
 |
Manny
and Gerry Gomes Bob Cooke, Emily Johns & Friends Keepers of State Pier Botanical Gardens |
| N.B.
Regional Vocational Technical High School Ralph Dlouhy & Sylvestre Silva and crew shipwright/ woodworking |
MA
Div. of Marine Fisheries Steve Correia Gear and Good Council |
|
| Tim
Lobo Tonnessen Park & Community Support |
C.V.
Ultra-Marine Band Club Community Support |
|
| Val
Almeida at the Verdean Gardens Community Support |
Jack
Saunders and the crew at Pier Oil, NB great neighbors! |
Some sixty-nine years ago, when known as the EFFIE M. MORRISSEY, the Schooner Ernestina embarked from New York under command of Captain Bob Bartlett for Baffin Island, the northernmost part of North America. This was Bartlett’s’ second voyage of Arctic exploration on the MORRISSEY. In 1926, he had skippered the Putnam Arctic Expedition to northwest Greenland. The leader of that expedition was the New York publisher George Palmer Putnam, the future husband of Amelia Earhart. The following year - 1927 - when Lindbergh flew the Atlantic and Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs, Putnam organized a follow-up effort to southwest Baffin Island, a region then considered terra incognita by Anglo-American geographers.
Laurence McKinley Gould, who would become Admiral Byrd’s second-in-command on the Byrd Antarctic Expedition of 1928-29, was Putnam’s second-in-command. Larry Gould is remembered today not only as a great polar explorer, but as the revered President of Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, and as the father of the International Geophysical Year, the 1950’s treaty which facilitated scientific research in Antarctica.
The major achievement of the Putnam Baffin Island Expedition was the exploration of the southwest coastline of "Baffin Land." This was accomplished by Putnam, Gould and five other members of the party who piled into an open whaleboat and cruised along the uncharted coastline for the better part of a month. The rather large body of water they navigated - now Bowman Bay - had previously been mapped as part of the mainland.
Putnam encountered several unique geographical features in the course of the whaleboat journey - mesas and canyons that reminded him of the American Southwest. He named them in honor of Gould, Bartlett and other celebrated explorers of the 1920s, including Roy Chapman Andrews and James L. Clark of the American Museum of Natural History, and William Beebe of the New York Zoological Society.
It was a grand salute to the extraordinary people who played a leading role in a remarkable era of adventure and accomplishment.
Much of what was discovered has never been mapped, the place-names have never been made official, the history has been all but forgotten.
This summer, a new expedition will return to the Putnam Highland [with modern vessels and attendant technology!]. Our objective is to put those "lost" features on the map and pick up the geographical and geological research where the Putnam Baffin Island Expedition left off. We’re going to use satellite technology - the Global Positioning System - to complete the work Putnam and Gould began, thereby linking the last Golden Age of exploration with the modern era.
And we’re going to kick off our expedition in the most appropriate way - with an afternoon sail on Schooner Ernestina, the ship that brought the Putnam expedition safely through the ice pack seven decades ago.
New Bedford Whaling Museum
Education Dept., Design Dept.
U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole
Homepage Development / Coastal Curriculum Development
Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods
Hole
Cathy Norton, Dave Remsen and the Library Staff
Homepage Production/Internet Support
Gary and Beth Schwarzman
Volunteer Teaching Crew
