Author Topic: A new connection with a sister museum  (Read 3746 times)

John Kokas

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A new connection with a sister museum
« on: May 03, 2018, 10:29:35 AM »
This SWW my wife and I tried something different by staying in Bath.  As part of our vacation we visited the Maine Maritime Museum just south of the Bath Iron Works shipyard.

Imagine my surprise when touring the grounds that I come across a section of mast from a Maine Schooner.  Yes, a large section of foremast from Mr. Winters "Luther Little" now stands proudly at the museum.  Upon checking out I got a chance to talk with several members of the museum staff and explained the connection between themselves and us.  They were completely unaware of the connection between the railroad and the schooners.  One of the members said they would make a point to visit Sheepscot and also about some possible archive research to learn more about the two ships if we had anything in our records.
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Bob Holmes

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Re: A new connection with a sister museum
« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2018, 06:14:16 PM »
This has been my experience as well.  As famous as the schooners were, almost no-one knows their history and that they were bought and owned by the railroad.  In fact, one might make a case that surviving artifacts from the schooners are the property of the W&Q!  (Although I suspect such a claim would raise a lot of hackles.)

Anyway, we should be more proactive in telling our part of the story of those two ships, who for many, many -- locals and tourists alike -- are the most notable memory of Wiscassett.

Joe Fox

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Re: A new connection with a sister museum
« Reply #2 on: May 03, 2018, 07:13:39 PM »
When I am conductor I like to make it a point to tell visitors that the schooners were once owned by the railroad. I remember seeing them briefly, and I know many wanted to see them restored. It is neat because the schooners were the most recognized part of Wiscasset.

John Kokas

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Re: A new connection with a sister museum
« Reply #3 on: May 03, 2018, 07:59:10 PM »
I forgot to add that the museum commissioned a local wood craftsman to make something out of some of the salvaged timber from the Luther Little.  What I picked up was a beautiful Cross pen set with the wooden barrel turned from a piece of the Luther Little.  You can put it up to your nose and smell the salt air!
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Carl G. Soderstrom

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Re: A new connection with a sister museum
« Reply #4 on: May 04, 2018, 12:53:23 AM »
Didn't Winter sell them to the town/Development Committee as a package with the yard
below the school?