Shipbuilding in Essex

TL;DR -- The Smithsonian Museum on Main Street will be in Essex of Essex County to document the shipbuilding activities of the area. The former Chebacco was part of an effort that produced 4,000 vessels since the Cape Ann venture got that area going. 

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Last year, we had a post on shipbuilding which was motivated by reading that had been done after taking a break from researching the huge interior for such a long time: Frontier century. We know that we need to balance sea and land, going forward. 

We looked at some New England (northern Essex County) efforts in this regard that might seem to pale, in a few regards, when compared with Boston's prowess. But, there was southern Essex County involvement, too. That expertise was applied to building a meeting house in Chebacco by the women in the area. 

82-ton Evelina M. Goulart
built 1927

Today, we return to that location, referencing it with another name: Essex MA of little Essex County which is (and will be) one of our main themes. Thanks to a Mass Humanities notice, we got informed of an effort by the Smithsonian Institutes to help document shipbuilding there through the facilities of the Museum on Main Street that is part of the Crossroads program. 

The website for the Essex Shipbuilding Museum has more information on the collaboration. Many photos might suggest that only the smaller craft were built at Essex, but the photo at Mass Humanities (image, at right) indicates that larger vessels were constructed, such as the Schooner Thomas E. Lannon. 

Big sister town, Ipswitch, has a post on shipbuilding in Essex. The Burnham family built ships for years (still do). One estimate was that the area produced 4,000 vessels since its founding. 

Essex was part of Ipswich, which is one of the original towns in Essex County with a 400th celebration year of 2033. 

Remarks: Modified: 09/10/2022

09/10/2022 -- Essex County