At times as many as sixteen other shipyards operated in Essex simultaneously, and vessels were built all along the river's banks. Beyond this, a good many Essex vessels were built inland in the dooryards of their builders. There was great pride in the workmanship. Good ideas were quickly copied. Over time, traditional methods developed for acco mplishing almost every aspect of vessel construction. These methods continue to evolve to take adva ntage of readily available materials and contemporary technologies to this day. In the mid-nineteenth century, as domestic markets for North A tlantic fish continued to grow, so did Gloucester's demand for vessels. Essex strove to meet the need and, in doing so, wo uld set the standard for In its heyday, Essex shipyards built dozens oflarge schooners in a single year, with the North American fishing schooner. In his book The multiple shipyards occupying a relatively small space along the Essex River. American Fishing Schooners, the late Howard C hapelle noted that, between 1850 and 1853, 170 vessels were launched from Essex shipyards, all crowded in the same spot along the tidal creek that flows past the village. Not only did C hapelle comment on the staggering number of vessels launched from these yards, he also took note of the high standard of wo rkmanship that went into them. H e stated that the "quality of construction at Essex was highly praised; after 1845 the vessels were almost yacht-like in finish and many were built on honor, of superb construction." It is a matter of record that more than 1,300 vessels h ave been built in Essex since 1860, and a matter of fac t that many more were built prior to that time. Some historians speculate that the total could near 4,000 vessels. Considering these numbers, that shipbuilding in Essex is a nearly 400-year-old tradition, and the town's relatively small population, it is h ard to imagine a place where shipbuilding is more deeply woven into the fab ric of a community or its culture. After Wo rld War II, as fish stocks were depleted, along with adequate supplies of timber for shipbuilding, the industry moved back into the cottage and the The pinky schooner Ardelle was built in Essex cultural heritage of the town was no over the winter of2010- 11 by Harold Burnham. longer preserved by the shipbuilders, but through the efforts of authors, historians, museums, and the inspiration of the few who endeavored to build boats to this day. I come from one of these shipbuilding families, and I am grateful to have grown up and raised my own fam ily in this community, so dedicated to preserving our maritime heritage. Working in my own yard in Essex, at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum, and along the East Coast through my involvement with the preservation of several Essex-built vessels, I managed to master the craft of my ancestors and strive to pass on what I have learned to whomever is interested. While commercial fishing from wooden sailing vessels is a thing of the past, today the remnants of this once-great industry are kept alive th ro ugh the occasional building of authentic representations of indigenous vessels for use in cultural tourism, examples of which yo u will see along the Boston wharves in June. Not only do these vessels serve Schooner Fame was launched in Essex in to provide guests with a way to experience our maritime pas t, but their presence along 2003. She was built along the lines ofa Wtzr the waterfront serves as an important reminder to all who see them of the vital roles of18 12 privateer and sails out ofSalem, AfA. vessels like these once played in everyday life. So, if yo u are visiting Sail Boston and admiring the tall ships from aro und the world, take some time to notice the smaller Essexbuilr vessels there as well, both ar rhe pier and in rhe parade of sail. If yo u get a chance, get aboard or go for a sail. You will learn rhar, while they may nor be as tall as some ships, these vessels are as big a part of Massachusetts's maritime history as anything a float. Later, drive a little further up rhe coast and visit Essex and its shipbuilding museum to see how these vessels were built and learn a lirrle about the wonderful culture from which they came. And, while yo u are up on the No rth Shore, take a trip to nearby G loucester or Salem and go for a sail on these vessels that are working to keep Massachusetts maritime pas t present for the future. ..t Harold A. Burnham is the 28th Burnham to operate a shipyard in Essex since 1819. In addition to the shipyard, he is the owner and operator of Schooner Ardelle, Inc., and is currently serving as the owner's representative for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) restoration ofthe schooner Ernestina-Morrissey, built in Essex in 1894. Harold also serves as president ofthe Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum .
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SEA HISTORY 159, SUMMER 2017