Editor of the Reformer:
This is a fabulous article and I agree that this man has done so much for our community that most people do not realize! As a matter of fact, I have been working with Gary Fox, Tom Call, Mike Emerson, Jim Loney , SVG, David Deacon, Bellows Falls Historical Society, and others for the safe delivery of an amazing historic large piece of paper-making equipment from our community from one location where it currently is to a place by the Adamâs Gristmill that weighs in excess of 9 tons, the only one in existence, and that many, many historians will be coming to our community and town to see.
by Tim Clark
ALISON LANGLEY
BLACKJACK, a 33′ Friendship sloop built in 1900 by Wilbur Morse, sails in her home waters of Rockland, Maine. She was extensively restored by professionals and volunteers at the Sail, Power & Steam Museum, which is her new home.
The Maine sloop-boat, the sailing predecessor to the modern lobsterboat, is an icon of Maine’s maritime heritage. As a professional boatbuilder living and working in Maine who has a particular interest in historic workboats, I had always hoped that I might one day have an opportunity to build or restore one of these so-called Friendship sloops. In the summer of 2016, such an opportunity came my way in the most satisfying way I could imagine: I was asked to restore an original working sloop built by the most notable builder of the type, Wilbur Morse of Friendship, Maine.