ESSEX — The book title tells it all — “Essex-Built and Out O’ Gloucester: The Legendary Schooners That Fished The Northwest Atlantic In The Age Of Sail.”. The 388-page book, written by Willard E.
Andrews and published by Pittsburg-based Dorrance Publishing Co., tells the story of the long history of shipbuilding in Essex. The book speaks to the schooners that continue to ply their trades off the coasts of Essex and Gloucester.
But the book also laments a legacy that ended almost a century ago. Included in the text are descriptions of what the fishing schooners looked like, how they were designed and built, “what it was they did and how they did it.” The book tells how the fishing schooners evolved over time to meet the changing demands of technology and of the fisheries and the course corrections that enabled them to do business on the waters off Cape Ann and beyond.
Part of the book points to what was seen as a discipline that was “the envy of the maritime world.” KD Montgomery, the executive director of the Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum, said Andrews’ book is a good start for those who want to learn about the maritime history of Cape Ann. “It’s a wonderful introduction for anyone interested in the storied history of shipbuilding in Essex and the rich fishing heritage of Gloucester — a perfect starting point for understanding this vital aspect of our local history,” Montgomery said.
The prologue of the book indicates that by 183.