Midcoast Region
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Waldoboro-Built Ships by Brian Swartz
W
They met different fates at sea
aldoboro shipbuilder George L. Welt was so well known that a Boston shipping merchant hired him to build several ships early in the 20th century. In his heyday, William F. Palmer had 15 ships built to haul coal to New England seaports, and Waldoboro yards turned out six. Welt went on a spree in the early 20th century, building for Palmer the 2,075-ton Fannie Palmer in 1901; the 1,763-ton Paul Palmer in 1902; the 2,315-ton Dorothy Palmer in 1903; and the 2,357-ton Singleton Palmer and 2,400-ton Harwood Palmer in 1904. At least three of these schooners met their fates at sea.
The Paul Palmer had a close call while docked at Baltimore in 1908. A fire sweeping that city’s coal docks torched the schooner’s foremast, but swift repairs soon put the ship out to sea again. With Captain Howard B. Allen in charge, the Paul Palmer unloaded coal at Bangor in June 1913 and stopped briefly in Rockport. Allen had aboard 11 people, including his wife and daughter. He sailed from Rockport on June 13 to load coal at Newport News, Virginia. Not far off Cape Cod on June 15, the Paul Palmer caught fire; crewmen took to the pumps to fight the advancing flames, but Allen finally ordered his
GRANITE HALL STORE A historic country store in Round Pond Village
vessel abandoned. Everyone took to the ship’s boats. The Rose Dorothea, a fishing boat out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, rescued all the crew and passengers and took them to Provincetown. The Paul Palmer sank. Early in the 21st century, the ship’s remains were found on the ocean floor at Stellwagen Bank, now a national marine sanctuary between Cape Ann and Cape Cod. The Paul Palmer has since been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Welt laid the keel for the five-masted Singleton Palmer in June 1903. When completed, she would be 269 feet long and 45.6 feet wide. Virginia
Jeremy Kurr
owner
“Penny” Candy • Fudge • Jams • Toys • Cards Balsam Fir Pillows • Books • Housewares Toiletries & Soaps • Danica Candles Catnip Mice and more! Gifford’s Ice Cream ~ Cones, Shakes & Sundaes Summer Hours: Open 10am-9pm
207-529-5864 • granitehallstore.com • 9 Backshore Road, Round Pond (Located off Rt. 32 in Round Pond Village)
Shaw’s Fish & Lobster Wharf Restaurant
207-357-2639 960 Atlantic Hwy., Waldoboro, ME
www.rwglidden.com
WHEN I GET HUNGRY, I GET MOODY! OPEN 7 DAYS Monday-Saturday 6AM-8PM Sunday 6AM-7PM
“Casual Inside and Outside Dining on a Traditional Maine Fishing Wharf ”
“Seafood at its Best”
Steaks & Chowders Too! Featuring Single, Twin & Triple Lobster Specials and Select Your Own Larger Lobsters!
207-677-2200
Route 32, New Harbor • Maine shaws-wharf.com
Visit Moody’s Gifts next door to the diner or book a stay at Moody’s Motel & Cabins just up the hill.
Also, new for 2022, visit our ice cream stand, A Twist of Moody’s!
(207) 832-7785 • ROUTE 1, WALDOBORO, ME
MOODYSDINER.COM
