Partnerships supporting Essex Shipbuilding Museum

Captain Harold Burnham

In the winter of 2011 . . .

. . . with the help of friends and family, I finally got around to building a new schooner for myself and it sure has been fun. There is something about seeing some of the many other vessels I have designed, built, or in some way had my hand it while out on the water enjoying it with friends and guests.

The sight makes me both eternally grateful for our Cape Ann heritage and proud of the role I played in keeping our maritime traditions alive.

Although Cape Ann’s land and seascapes are beautiful, it is our vessels that have inspired the imagination of artists, photographers, writers and visitors alike.

- Harold Burnham

Burnham Boatbuilding

Our neighbor to the east of our historic A.D. Story shipyard is the celebrated Burnham shipyard, now operated by Capt. Harold Burnham.

Harold has designed and built numerous craft in the Burnham yard, notably the schooners Ardelle, Fame and Isabella. All large craft, double sawn framed, oak planked and side launched into the Essex river basin on plank and cribbing.

The two properties are separated by a narrow tidewater creek  which they have shared over the last 2 centuries for the purposes of launching, tide hauling, mast stepping, storm holing. and the like.

As a museum, with a mission of education and interpretation, we couldn’t be more fortunate than to have a shipwright such as Harold Burnham actively designing and building in the Essex style, just across the creek.

Please note: The Essex Historical Society & Shipbuilding Museum is next door to Mr. Burnham’s property and while he loves to have visitors, we kindly ask that you allow us to let Harold know you’re coming! Please check in at the orientation center before heading over to take a look. Thank you!

The Ardelle

Harold Burnham constructed the ARDELLE a 45 ton, 49 passenger, 58 foot, “pinky” on his own account.

The ARDELLE’s spars, rigging and systems were for the most part salvaged from another schooner and Harold milled the lion’s share of the timber for the vessel from trees discarded by local arborists, and tree companies.

And so not only is the ARDELLE constructed almost entirely from recycled material but Harold was able to pick where many of the pieces of wood were going into the vessel from the log ensuring both the quality of timber used and that nothing would be wasted.

What is more is that there was no paid labor on the project. Harold simply could not afford it and so like neighbors helping neighbors to raise a barn friends and family from all over volunteered there efforts to keep the shipbuilding tradition alive, help out someone in need, learn a bit and have a good time along the way.

From the time the keel was laid on September 6, 2010 through her launching on July 9, 2011 and until she received her certification to carry passengers from the coast guard on September 2, 2011 a crew that averaged from 3 to five persons worked on the vessel almost uninterruptedly. More information →

The Sylvina W. Beal

Built in 1911 by Frank C. Adams in East Boothbay, Maine, for Charles Henry Beal, the Sylvina W. Beal is the oldest existing auxiliary knock-about fishing schooner in North America and one of two known existing Maine-built fishing schooners.

Over her long life, the Beal has proven to be a worthy vessel, completing over 108 years of active commercial service as a fishing vessel, a sardine carrier, and a windjammer.

Supporters of the Sylvina W. Beal are working on getting her listed on the National Historic Register and making sure she’s rehabilitated according to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Ship and Vessel Preservation Projects.

Their aim is to have her ready for future use as a commercial charter, education and research vessel operating out of her new homeport of Gloucester, Massachusetts.  More information →

There are five Burnham-built schooners: The Schooner Ardelle (shown above), The Thomas E. Lannon, The Fame of Salem, Isabella, and the museum’s own Chebacco Boat Lewis H. Story.