Page 10. MAINE COASTAL NEWS April 2010
Waterfront News
PENOBSCOT MARINE MUSEUM NEWS
Anonymous Donor Promises 1:1 Match in remarkable amount of work for the museum Donations toward the matching grant in Museum to Raffle
Memory of Museum Registrar Edith and did a wonderful job at implementing new Edith’s name can be sent to the Penobscot “2009 Boat of the Year”
Murphy procedures, caring for our artifacts, and Marine Museum, PO Box 498, Searsport, ME One lucky individual will soon have the
The Penobscot Marine Museum has elevating our collections management 04974. rare experience of paddling his own birch-
received a “challenge grant” in memory of standards at PMM,” said Parker. “Our bark canoe, just like the ones built by
Edith P. Murphy of Rockland, who served as collections and the material culture of our Half-Hull Model Building Class Penobscot Indians in the 17th and 18th
registrar at the Penobscot Marine Museum, state are far better off because of her work.” Learn the fine old art of half-hull centuries. The Penobscot Marine Museum
and who passed away last August after a We are incredibly sad to have lost Edith, who modeling. For centuries, shipbuilders has announced that it will raffle the canoe to
yearlong illness. According to the was our colleague as well as friend, but are designed ships by carving a model of half of raise funds for a popular public
museum’s executive director, Niles Parker, grateful that such a thoughtful and the hull, which allowed them to examine demonstration, and the drawing will be held
an anonymous donor has generously meaningful gift has been made to recognize every curve and feature before beginning July 1, 2010- in good time for the canoeing
offered to match all donations made in Edith and her many contributions, while also construction. A nicely carved half-hull season.
Edith’s name through March 31, up to a total supporting the ongoing efforts of the model makes an impressive wall decoration “This is an extraordinary chance to own
of $10,000. museum. or gift. a piece of Maine history and American
As Registrar at the Penobscot Marine Edith also worked as Registrar for the This class will build the 1934 Americas heritage,” said Niles Parker, executive
Museum from 2002 until 2009, Edith was Farnsworth Art Museum and did special Cup boat Endeavour, one of the most director of the museum.
responsible for keeping track of artifacts and projects for the Colby College Museum of graceful racing yachts ever built. At 16 feet overall, the canoe is authentic
ensuring proper environmental conditions Art, the Abbe Museum, and the Maine State Participants will build the model from “lifts” down to the last detail. Real birch-bark is
for storage and display. “Edith performed a Museum. of basswood and mahogany, and mount the lashed to white cedar gunwales with split
finished model on a cherry backboard. The spruce root, and seams are sealed with a
class will be taught by Al Ross, an mixture of pine sap and fat. No nails or other
Captain George William Kittredge
experienced model builder and educator. metal were used anywhere in its
We will have students from Searsport construction.
High School participating. Please let us Named a 2009 “Boat of the Year” by
USN Ret. (1918 - 2010)
know when you register if you would like to Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors magazine,
partner with a student. Everyone will build the birch-bark canoe was built at the
Team 5-4 in overtime before a crowd of
their own model. Penobscot Marine Museum by a team of
Continued from Page 9.
100,000 people. He owned and rode horses
Each year the half-hull building classes Native Americans from Maine and New
sold submarine plans to individuals for self until the time of his death. He was also a pilot.
fill quickly, call to reserve your spot now! Brunswick, led by master builder Steve
construction for his two most successful In recent years, he built and flew an
Dates/Time: Monday and Wednesday Cayard of Wellington. The two-week-long
units known as the K-250 (250 foot rated amphibious ultra-light plane.
afternoons from 2-5pm; Mar 22, 24, 29, 31; demonstration was one of the museum’s
depth) and K-350 (350 foot rated depth). His Captain Kittredge’s wife, Gayle
Apr. 5, 7, 12, 14; Location: PMM’s Old Vestry most popular events last summer. “By
latest design is the UEM (ultimate exercise Kittredge, predeceased him on 19 March
Building, corner of Route One and Church raffling this canoe, we’ll be able to host
machine) which is a “green” human- 2000. Per George’s request, there will be no
Street, Searsport; Cost: $135 (museum another demonstration in 2010,” said Parker.
powered submersible that can also harness funeral or service. His ashes will be interred
members); $150 (non-members). Includes Tickets are $100, and sales are strictly
the power of the wind via a sail when on the in the Columbarium at the United Sates Naval
materials and instruction. Tools: Each limited to 200. The canoe will be displayed at
surface. Plans for these submersibles are still Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.
participant is asked to bring a coarse round various locations throughout the state until
available at psub.org. For those that would like to know more
file and a surform. Pre-Registration is the drawing. For more information, contact
Captain Kittredge was an excellent about this very interesting person, Kittredge
requested by calling Betty at 548-2529 x 206 the museum at 207-548-2529 or
horseman and a good polo player. In 1950 in wrote an auto-biography “I Found Israel’s
www.penobscotmarinemuseum.org
New Delhi, India, he played on the Argentine Atom Bomb Factory.”
Polo team that defeated the Indian Army
I n t e r n a t i o n a l M a r i t i m e L i b r a r y
Help Computerize Maritime History
The International Maritime Library (IML) is a non-profit tax-deductible organization dedicated to the collection and
preservation of all maritime information, such as books, periodicals, documents, personal papers and photographs and then
computerizing it for ease of reference. Those interested will have access to the reference materials and the databases created from
them, either on-site at IML or via the website.
Presently, there is no facility dedicated to collecting and researching all the written maritime works, past and present,
published around the globe. IML will fill this immense void by collecting published and personal works, and computerizing it.
IML’s collections and computerized works will assist maritime academic institutions, businesses and the public allowing
them quick access to information with the touch of a button. With the technological advances in today’s world, the maritime
industry is well behind in what is available via computers. There have been thousands of maritime books and periodicals
published throughout history, which presently cannot be referenced. Those looking for current or historical information spend
hundreds hours, and may never locate that obscure piece of information. IML will change this by creating a single source for all
maritime information.
ON-GOING PROJECTS INCLUDE:
Transcribing maritime articles from: Maine Industrial Journal (1880 to 1918);
Bangor Whig & Courier (1836-1899); Republican Journal (1829 to present);
and various others including Eastern Argus (Portland), Bath Daily Times,
Eastport Sentiniel, Ellsworth American, New Bedford Mercury, Salem
I want to join
Gazette and Boston Evening Transcript.
Databasing - List of Merchant Vessels, 1867 to 1990s. Sail completed, Steamers
Admiral of the Fleet$1,000.00
Captain $100.00
(1867 to 1903) will be finished end of 2009
Admiral $500.00
Lieutenant $50.00
Transcribing Appleby's Ship Records for Maine and the WPA Ship Documents,
Commodore $250.00
Midshipman $25.00
especially ones not published. Passamaquoddy Complete and presently
working on Bath.
Name:
Also, there are over 800 periodicals published in the maritime world and not one
library holds a quarter of them. IML will bridge this problem by collecting and comput-
Address:
erizing them for future use by researchers and the general public.
City: State: Zip:
There is a massive amount of work to be done to accomplish these goals, which
should have been started 150 years ago!
Send to:
To make this happen we need financial support, please help us do more! For more
The International Maritime Library, P.O. Box 710, Winterport, Maine 04496
information please call (207) 223-8846.
Dedicated to the Preservation of Maritime Writings
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