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 1830, shipbuilding in Essex and fishing out of Gloucester, while mostly prosperous, were considered little more than cottage industries that featured shipyards and vessels owned and operated by individuals or small family entities. Essex ships are celebrated for their beauty, sturdiness, speed and capability, Montgomery said. “The construction process in Essex has historically involved specialized crews, each mastering a specific part of the building process,” she said.
But by 1850, a number of factors began to coalesce which would eventually propel Gloucester’s fame as one of the world’s greatest fishing ports. At the same time, Essex’s eminence as a great supplier of vessels, second to none, for the fisheries industry became evident. “Not the least of these factors were the vessels themselves,” reads the book’s prologue.
“This is their story.” While the book includes many images of vessels since the initial introduction of photography to the fishing fleet about 1880, photography was relatively rudimentary at the time and limited in its real depiction of the fleet vessels until about 1900. As such, the book attempts to fill the void by employing fine-art models — detailed, authentic, historically accurate reconstructions in 1:48 scale — in a “documentary role as surrogates for the actual vessels” the book reads.
The models attempt to portray their subjects as they were in life — “elegant, glamorous princesses, belles of the ball — and at the same time scullery maids, used hard in a hard business.” The preface of the book indicates this effort “may be the closest we can come to going down the rabbit-hole and emerging at a wharfside in the Gloucester of 100, or even 170 years ago.” The book traces the evolution of the schooners in a step-by-step fashion, starting in 1847 when the “modern” era in the New England/Northwest Atlantic fisheries began to emerge — to about 1930, as the age of sail in those fisheries wound down and ultimately became history.
Throughout the latter half of the 19th century and into the 20th century, as speed increasing influenced the profitability of fishing operations, Essex builders refined their designs to be more sleek and hydrodynamic, Montgomery said. “Despite these evolutions, the fundamental construction methods remained largely consistent, enhanced by the adoption of power tools which expedited the building process,” she said. “This artistic philosophy in Essex ensure that the form of vessels not only follows but enhances their function, making them beautifully practical.
” Essex has been historically known for building “robust, heavy-duty ships during the classic period,” while modern times have seen a shift towards lighter and more versatile crafts, Montgomery said. “This evolution illustrates Essex’s enduring commitment to balancing practical design with aesthetic elegance, resulting in ships that are not only effective in their intended uses but also visually striking,” she said. “This approach has cemented Essex’s reputation in maritime history as a place where shipbuilding is both an art and a science, deeply rooted in tradition yet adaptable to the needs of the times.
” Stephen Hagan may be contacted at 978-675-2708, or [email protected] . Stephen Hagan may be contacted at 978-675-2708, or shagan@gloucestertimes.
com . Katherine “KD” Montgomery. "The construction process in Essex has historically involved specialized crews, each mastering a specific part of the building process.
" — KD Montgomery, Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items..
