Members of the Ernestina Commission and SEMA met with students to receive the results of the  latest survey. The Schooner Ernestina Commission and the Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey Association, Inc. commissioned the University of Massachusetts- Dartmouth Charlton College of Business Center for Marketing Research to conduct a second marketing survey this spring to follow up on the information acquired last fall by the first survey.  This survey will be used in the planning for Ernestina’s future operations and programming.

We thank Dr. Nora Garmin Barnes,  Director of the Center for Marketing Research, for offering this invaluable service to Ernestina’s future.

We congratulate the students,  Amy Ingraham, Ashkan Taheri, Patrick Leonard, Joseph Veduccio, and Sanghyuk Nam for their excellent report.   With an understanding of the demand and potential return on the various activities Ernestina might undertake, the Commission, SEMA, DCR and the Ernestina community can then use this information to build a suite of programming that will help ensure a sustainable and dynamic future for a restored, sailing Ernestina.

SEMA supported the Commission again by paying 50% of the Center’s fee.

A GREAT thank you to all the volunteers who worked so hard to get the cover off Ernestina and THANKS to DCR crew Manny and Dave.

DCR Commissioner Ed Lambert told the Ernestina volunteers that they were among 5,000 volunteers in parks across the state.   During this statewide day of service, volunteers worked together to get parks and beaches across Massachusetts ready for summer by cleaning coastlines, clearing trails, planting flowers, painting picnic tables, and more.

Here’s how the day went aboard Ernestina.

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9 am, a beautiful day for getting that cover off

DCR Commissioner Ed Lambert stopped by to thank the volunteers who were ready to get started.

SEMA President Julius Britto started at the bow

The plastic cover came down quick!

From past experience Volunteers devised many ingenious methods to cut the plastic overhead.

Tim Connor had his own variation, Sonny and he made a great team

Chuck Smiler brought his pruning saw!

The saw worked great for the overhead!

Meanwhile Commissioner Fred Sterner and volunteer (former crew) Katie DePrato were oiling the spars up on the pier

cordless drills were handy to remove the countless screws that held together the cover structure

DCR's Dave Pires working on the top of one of the rafters

Once the rafters were removed from the ship another crew stripped the battens that held the plastic.

Spars almost done!

What a difference, it must be spring!

the crew, What GREAT volunteers, THANK YOU!

rafters ready for storage

Great job, The Saturday crew left the rest for Monday

By Monday noon Manny and his DCR crew had removed the aft part of the cover frame

and just the forward section was left

Thanks to the DCR crew and Saturday's volunteers the cover is OFF! It is officially SPRING! and with all the work done this winter the ship looks GREAT!

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The seasonal Park Interpreter position for Ernestina has been posted. The application deadline is May 7.

Visit the official DCR job posting for details.

DCR carpenter Manny Silva and additional DCR winter staff David and Paul have accomplished a lot since the Commission visit in January.

covering boards caulked and painted, bulwarks painted

bowsprit painted

foc'sle hatch, chain box and fore deck bulwarks painted

Fish Hold Hatch reconstructed and painted

Engine Room hatch reconstructed and painted

bulwarks painted

David Pires, painter extraordinaire!

The records of the Schooner Ernestina Commission have recently been preserved in the archives of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).  DCR Archivist Sean Fisher shared with us a copy of the Deed of Gift which you can download and view.

In 1982, after 88 years of fishing and exploring as Effie M. Morrissey and packeting as Ernestina,  the ship belonged to the Republic of Cape Verde.

The Cape Verdean government presented the ship, as a gift, to the People of the United

Sailing off Newport RI in August of 1982

States.  This would not have been accomplished without the efforts of many people around the world, especially the Friends of Ernestina/Morrissey, including many Cape Verdean-Americans, supporters from Cape Ann and members of the Bartlett Exploration Association. Because of her Essex/Gloucester origins the ship was entrusted to Massachusetts.

This is a very significant part of the amazing history of this Official Vessel of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Laura Pires-Hester, Chair of the Schooner Ernestina Commission and Julius Britto, President of SEMA were pivotal in the efforts to repatriate the ship and are still working for the very best future for this wonderful gift.

DCR has announced that the Park Serve Day scheduled for Saturday April 20 has been POSTPONED.  the Work Day has been RESCHEDULED for next Saturday, April 28.  Contact us if you have any questions.

RESCHEDULED for Saturday April 27.

It’s time to get Schooner Ernestina ready for the summer season.

Let’s get that winter cover off!

Please sign up on DCR’s Park Serve Page.

Step #1: “Select a park” –  scroll down and select Schooner Ernestina.

then complete steps #2 -#4  and click submit.

You should get a confirmation email.

Please RSVP to SEMA so we will know how much coffee and donuts to get and so we can let you know if you need to bring any special equipment.

Fun from last year:

See you at State Pier, New Bedford at 9 am Saturday, April 27!  We’ll be done by 1:00 pm.

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Jim and Cindy Bean welcomed the Fufu Band to the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Visitors’ Center.

The Fufu Band marched down to the Auditorium to continue the celebration of Ernestina’s “birthday”.  It’s 119 years since the launch of Effie M. Morrissey in Essex, Massachusetts.

Following a showing of the Pathe Newsreels (who could forget Bob Bartlett’s “Little Morrissey“?), former crew members and friends of Schooner Ernestina had the audience in fits of laughter as they shared their stories and songs of some of the more amusing times on board. Tom Goux started us off with “Yoyo Schooners”. Chuck Smiler continued the fun, with a recitation of the “The Log of the Record Run” while dressed in full fisherman’s gear and drinking from a bottle. Was it muddy water or rum? Fred Sterner and Marty Casey regaled us with their tales, including times on this venerable working boat, while in the company of pristine yachts. A blushing bride remembered with fondness her wedding on board.

Jim Bean had everyone singing when he led his new chantey, “Potty on a Line” to commemorate a voyage when Ernestina sported a large wheel chair accessible port-a-potty on the starboard side, and his watch was assigned to catch it on the dock at low tide.

Louise and Paul Anthony helped everyone make beautiful Sailors’ Valentines with dyed pasta prepared by Cindy Bean.

Everyone joined The Beans in singing “Lovely Ernestina” .  Then everyone finished the celebration with birthday cake served by Annie McDowell.

A big thank you to Emily Prigot and the staff at the New Bedford Whaling Historical Park for all their help.

Keep posted for BIG plans to celebrate Ernestina’s 120th in 2014!

Come celebrate Schooner Ernestina’s 119th birthday on Valentine’s Day and join in the fun,when the AHA! theme for the night is ‘Ha, Ha”.   Kids of all ages will meet at 7:30 P.M. in front of the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park Visitor’s Center to join the fufu band. What fun!

“Musical instruments” will be provided or bring your own. We will march through the Visitor Center to the auditorium.

There will be activities for All!  

Make a Sailor’s Valentine, watch newsreels from when the Effie M. Morrissey went to the Arctic, and enjoy stories and songs about some of the lighter times on board. Sing Happy Birthday to Ernestina and indulge in a piece of birthday cake.

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The New Bedford Harbor Sea Chantey Chorus

is actively seeking new members for this year’s chorus. With four gigs already booked, we’d look to have some new voices to sing these wonderful maritime songs!!  If you’re interested, please CONTACT US and details will be sent to you!!