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Explore > Lowell's Boat Shop > Story Archives
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The River
Submitted by norm, North Shore
On the banks of the Merrimac, the engine and heart of the early settlement , commerce and community, the comings and goings on the river, to the sea and back again to the Ferry to families, by boats, by boats as the village sprouted, still there that structure, that
steady friend, mated the river, to the people.
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Sailing to Mosely Pines
Submitted by Isaac, North Shore
About a year ago my dad and I decided sail to Mosely Pines from Lowell's Boat Shop in our wonderful Lowell's Dory. It was perfect weather for sailing. When we set off we were going really fast, and we thought we would get there quickly. But then the wind became light and with the wind and current against us we became stuck where the Merrimack River narrows under Rt. 95. My dad kept on asking if I wanted to go back, but each time he asked me I refused. After 1 to 2 hours of trying to get by a rock where the current was very strong, we finally got past the rock and reached shore at Mosely Pines. The ride went well for us, and it was a great day!
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Boy scouts and dories
Submitted by Alice, North Shore
One other thing I wanted to mention is that scouts and Lowell dories have a decades long relationship that continues today.
"They (Lowell built dories) were in the catalog of the Boy Scouts of America for forty years, and the Shop shipped boats to the Scouts of America and of England too."- from a history of Lowell's
Our sea scout ship continues to row and maintain Lowell built dories. The Traditional Small Craft Association recognizes the value of this and awarded us a $400 grant to preserve and maintain our Lowell Banks dories this year.
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Fishing
Submitted by Old Skip, North Shore
My family had a Lowell's boat in the '30's and up to WWII when i was put away until my brother returned from the army. And he did. In 1946. In the water went the boat and on it went his outboard and out into Ipswich Bay we all went. Fishing out there was one of the dreams he lived on through the D-Day landing and through Europe.
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Chamber party at Lowell's
Submitted by PamFenner, North Shore
What a fun place for eating a quick supper at Lowell's before having an excursion on the Merrimac River in the " Full Moon", a yacht now based in Boston. Look for the photo. This successful Chamber of Commerce event took place the summer of 2005.
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Art at Lowell's Boat Shop
Submitted by PamFenner, North Shore
I grew up near Lowell's Boat Shop and have submitted a photograph of an oil painting done by Dale Greene of Ipswich which was included in an art show at the the Shop. I was drawn to the painting immediately not only by the artist's skill in capturing the scene, but also because this bench is similar to the workbenches in Andrews' Boat Shop which my father had owned nearby. In addition, the hill of pine trees as seen through the window of the painting is " The Point" where I grew up.
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Partnerships
Submitted by Lisa, North Shore
Lowell's Boat Shop is a place that many middle school students may remember as a haven during the winter months. It was here they gathered and talked about dory history, the tools of the trade, the fishing industry, and what it is like to be a boat builder. Together they were able to build a dory, then launch it, row it down the Merrimack River and know that they too were a part of history.
Working around the blower from the big heater, students watched as the first bald eagles appeared soaring over the river as the ice began to break up. This experience has given much to local schools and enriched the lives of so many families here in the Merrimack RIver Valley. Students return to River Valley Charter School and recall the dory projects that they were able to be a part of. Our younger students want to know when they will be able to row in the dories too! Lowell's Boat Shop is a part of our curriculum, it is a part of the history of this country, and it is part of who we are as a place. Thank you Lowell's Boat Shop for all your efforts to keep history alive for the children in our community!
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Lowell's
Submitted by Karen, North Shore
Lowell's is a tremendous connection to our roots as a fishing society. Thousands of dories were built here, really the predecessor to the"assembly line" method of building. When one reads of how these dories were used- and the bravery of the fisherman who braved the rich fishing grounds off New England it is amazing. If you have ever read Kurlansky's book "Cod—The Fish that Changed the World " about the central role the humble Cod played in our politics and history you will never look at a humble dory the same way. A humble fish and a humble boat never played such an important role.
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Lowells
Submitted by phinn, North Shore
A true gem on the North Shore. We need more places with such culture and are available to the public. A must visit to those who have not been.
Chris
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living history
Submitted by Alice, North Shore
I grew up in the Merrimack River Valley. I often stood along the shore and watched boats going by on the river. I wanted to be out on the water, exploring, but didn't have a boat. or know how to access one. When my children became teenagers, we discovered Lowell's Boat Shop by way of the Rings Island Rowing Club and the sea scouts. We club members and scouts often row up to Amesbury in dories with the incoming tide and stop off to visit the boatbuilders there. We currently have stewardship of several Lowell dories and put them to good use with youth organizations, local schools and church groups. The boat shop is always a welcoming and encouraging place. It offers us an opportunity to experience living history through their museum displays, ongoing boatbuilding and event participation. They willingly share their expertice in helping us to maintain our traditional wooden boats. LBS has cooperatively built boats with several schools in the area, the Nock, Amesbury Middle School and the River Valley Charter School. They are a vibrant and welcoming part of our river communities.
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fond childhood memories
Submitted by Cheerful Charlie, North Shore
My name is Sue Lowell Wolfendale and I am an 8th generation Lowell. My father Ralph was the last Lowell to run the boatshop. About 20 years ago I became a professional clown and needed a name. Growing up I was always at the shop doing everything from sweeping chips to helping build the dories. The men there had a pet name for me and called me Charlie. I had such fond memories of my times there and the wonderful men who worked for my father that I decided to be called Charlie the Clown. The problem was that there were several others called Charlie so I decided to call myself Cheerful Charlie. I often tell others about how I got my name. Also, let me add that I am proud of my Lowell heritage.
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Building a Bank Dory
Submitted by arnie, North Shore
With some trepidation, last January, I signed up for the class to build a Bank Dory. There were two other brave souls in addition to Graham McKay, the instructor and professional boat builder. Classes were held for three hours on Tuesday and Thursday nights and for six hours on Saturdays. We used a traditional plan from John Gardner's Dory Book, raw pine and oak that were one step removed from the trees, copper rivets and bronze nails.
During the six week stretch of classes, the outside temperature often fell to zero or below. The Merrimack was frozen solid. On some Saturday mornings the shop felt even colder until the heater kicked in.
The three of us had varying degrees of woodworking skills, we all made mistakes, learned to correct them and week by week our skills improved. We measured, cut, measured, planed, fit, planed some more and then riveted each new plank in place. To tell it sounds somewhat boring, but to see the boat take shape, grow and become a thing of beauty and utility as a product of our own handiwork was truly satisfying.
On the last Saturday class, the weather had warmed and the Merrimack had for the most part thawed. We rushed to install a seat, the oarlocks and some finishing touches, then carried the boat out of the shop for launching.
It floated!
We each took turns rowing alone, then all four of us piled in for a true test. It still floated - with no leaks. We probably could have added a few hundred pounds of fish and it still would float and row beautifully.
In the early 1900's Lowell's Boat Shop (established in 1793,) produced about 2000 Bank Dories per year. It took the four of us six weeks to build one - using the same traditional methods. Even though I lost the coin toss which would have allowed me to buy the boat for material costs, I consider the class to have been one of my most satisfying experiences.
Give it a try.
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Boatbuilder
Submitted by Graham, North Shore
I grew up down the street about two hundred yards. In high school I was given a scholarship for a boatbuilding class at the shop. After the class I built my own boat and rowed it everywhere on the river. My neighbor was later "rowed" down the aisle in it and subsequently purchased it as an anniversary present. I stayed somewhat active in boatbuilding and began teaching at the shop about four years ago. I eventually became the boatbuilder and it is great to be in my neighborhood doing what I love and I try every day to be an good and effective steward of the Lowell's history.
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Memories
Submitted by Tom, South Shore
The fact that Lowel's is the oldest sustained wooden boat shop in the United States has special meaning for me. I am restoring my father's wooden runabout which was built in 1960 in Maine. No, it's not a Lowell; but if I am to continue this project, I would like to access the skills, knowledge and experience of the people at Lowel's. In other words I hope the shop will stay right where it is for a long time.
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Lowell's Boat Shop
Submitted by John, North Shore
Hi All,
I fulfilled a lifelong dream of building a wooden boat at Lowell's back in the fall of 07. Graham MacKay was our very knowledgeable instructor. I would like to build another boat with my son in a few years for fly fishing and would certainly contact Lowell's for their expertise! This place is a historical treasure and fun place to go hang out! These skills need to be preserved for all time!
Sincerely, John Reeves Byfield,MA
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classes
Submitted by Bill, North Shore
I had always wanted to build a boat - from lofting to completion. No kits, but the original way. I was running out of time if I was ever going to do this. So I signed up for a lofting class at Lowell's and that strarted a process that took about four years. Actually, the process of building my beautiful 17' cedar lapstrake canoe was one of the more enjoyable projects I have completed in my 69 years. Thanks to the talented folks at Lowell's Boat Shop for getting me started.
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Lowell Boat Shop
Submitted by Bill Plante, North Shore
I am probably the oldest living former employee at Lowell Boat Shop, having been hired to finish dories. Walked to work from Newburyport in winter of 1939, age 18, fired up the wood stove in the basement to thaw out paint, before 7 a.m. Removed top dory from its nest, puttied all fastner holes, shellacked knots, and primed the boat in and out. Did three or four in 10 hour days. Restacked the dried boats the following a.m., and repeated the process until the order was completed. Received 50 cents a boat. Bill Plante
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Painting history
Submitted by Dan R, North Shore
My brother-in-law, Bruce Ellavsky, died from cancer several years ago, but in the years before his death Bruce and my sister, Kathy, restored an old sail-maker's loft about a block from Lowell's Boat Shop and made it their home. In addition to being a career FBI special agent, Bruce enjoyed painting, and one of his favorite subjects was Lowell's Boat House. I've uploaded to your picture gallery a copy of one of his paintings and photo of Bruce while his was finishing the painting.
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Boat Building
Submitted by Kevin Shea Artist, North Shore
See Photo: "Boat Building".
Painted in Historic Lowell's Boat Shop, "Boat Building" displays the time honored tradition and process of dorys being built in New England's "working museum" along the shores of the Merrimac River, Amesbury MA.
The Impressionist style of the painting reflects an active and changing atmosphere in the boat shop with boats in transition through the building process. Spontanious brushstrokes reinforce the dramatic composition while the boats float above the reflective floor of the boat shop.
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boatbuilding
Submitted by Jim, North Shore
Lowells Boat Shop is the only boatbuilding school anywhere around this area. It provides a link to times past when individuals relied on themselves and their skills to craft and make their on boats and catch their own food. Our reliance on others to provide us with our daily necessities is a road we have traveled and I can't say it has greatly improved our lot. I want to commend the Lowell Boat Shop for keeping the boatbuilding tradition available in Massachusetts. This great state has a long and proud history of seafaring and Lowells Boat Shop helps to keep this tradition alive
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