her sailing rig was removed and pump systems were installed; she served four years in this capacity on the Delaware River. In 1947, she was returned to her previous owners, the Meerwald family, and then sold to Clyde A. Phillips, who had the firefighting rig removed, the engine replaced, and new oyster-dredging equipment in-
stalled to serve as a full-time powered oyster dredger under a new name—Clyde A. Phillips. In 1995 she was restored to her original name as well as her rig, and brought into service at the Bayshore Center. (Bayshore Center at Bivalve, 2800 High Street, Port Norris, NJ; www.bayshorecenter.org) Schooner A. J. Meerwald
courtesy bayshore center
propeller, and galley during the work accomplished before this most recent period in drydock. Everything on the ship from the waterline up has been replaced. The last major restoration of the ship was carried out in 1995; nearly 100,000 passengers have sailed in New Jersey’s official tall ship since that time. She will be returned to service as a sailing classroom and excursion vessel for the Bayshore Center. Launched on 7 September 1928 at Charles H. Stowman and Sons in Dorchester, New Jersey, the wooden centerboard schooner (equipped with an auxiliary diesel engine) was designed for oyster dredging. By law, the harvesting of seed oysters was only permitted under sail, so the propeller and pilothouse were removed seasonally for that operation. For the rest of the year, sail, gaffs, and booms were removed and the propeller and pilot house were reinstalled. Meerwald dredged for oysters until 1942, when in June of that year she was commandeered under the War Powers Act and used by the US Coast Guard as a fireboat. Most of
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