Mattapoisett Wharves

Mattapoisett Wharves. Historically Speaking .... , 1752 , Professional shipbuilding began. Originally, the builders used the abundant timber found in the area woods. Boats were built and launched on the Mattapoisett River. However, most of the larger ships were constructed at the harbor where development followed., 1766 , Gideon Barstow established the first barstow Wharf, later called Short Wharf, for shipbuilding. In time, he was joined by his son Wilson, who had spent some years at sea. Wilson and his family enlarged the business. Rubble stone was used to build the original wharf. Later, granite was added from a quarry located on the west side of what is now Mattapoisett Neck Road., 1792 , The growing need for shipping and whaling vessels helped create Middle Wharf and Long Wharf, the latter being built by Ebenezer Cannon. Several shipbuilding groups, families and individuals worked cooperatively throughout these yards and wharves to build ships., 1812 , Holmes Wharf was constructed for shipbuilding by Josiah Holmes and Benjamin Barstow. The Holmes family continued to own it for over one hundred years., 1834 , The Mattapoisett Wharf Company was formed by local shareholders who owned the Long, Middle, and Short Wharves. During the next fifty years, many local families built additional wharves and boatyards along the shoreline of the town. Many whale ships were launched from these wharves, including the Acushnet. Herman Melville sailed on her maiden voyage., 1903 , The Mattapoisett Wharf Company, made up of sixty-five shareholders, voted to sell the three wharves to the town. No dissenting votes were cast by the shareholders. The town paid $6,500 for the three wharves and an additional $1,000 for an adjacent lot that was a prerequisite to the agreement., 1918 , The Holmes Wharf and yard were purchased from the Holmes family by some civic minded year-round and summer residents and given to the town., The Bark "Wanderer". , Built: - J.H. Holmes and Son Shipyard, Mattapoisett , Owners -Gifford and Cummings, New Bedford , Length Overall - 162.2 feet , Beam: - 25.6 feet , Draft: - 15.8 feet , Gross Tonnage: - 303.23 tons , Net Tonnage: - 288.13 tons , Masts: - Main, Fore and Mizzen , Sails: - Main and Fore, Square Rigged, , Mizzen, Fore and Aft Rigged , Launched: - April 23, 1878, The Wanderer made whaling voyages to the Atlantic, North Pacific and Arctic oceans. Her first voyage out of New Bedford was on June 4, 1878. She holds the distinction of being the last whaler to go out of the port of New Bedford under sail., In April 1900, she ceased whaling and was designated a merchant ship. In 1922, she was used in the original film Down to the Sea in Ships. In her 46 years afloat, she made 23 voyages under 22 different skippers., Caught in a sudden storm on August 25, 1924, the Wanderer was driven onto the rocks off Cuttyhunk Island. The crew was saved, but the ship was wrecked. Though she is long gone, a portion of one of her masts is part of the flagpole in Ship Yard Park. This relic remains as a silent sentinel overlooking the wharves and harbor of Mattapoisett, a reminder of the town's glorious shipbuilding days., Dedication Mattapoisett Wharves Summer 2001, In Memory of Winfield Jenny , 1905-1986, Wharf Commissioner .... 1947 - 1957 , Harbor Master .... 1950 - 1957 , Water Commissioner .... 1934 - 1984 , Citizen of the Year .... 1987 , Unofficial Photographer for Presto Press, "These wharves were the center of Win's universe" , Sponsored by Win's Kids, Mattapoisett Historical Commission, 2001 , Photos from Mattapoisett Historical Society , Drawing of Wharves by Brian Gould , Layout by David Gould, Village Framery and Design.