ASSOCIATION FOR MARITIME PRESERVATION RECEIVES $300,000 MATCHING GRANT FROM NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Maine windjammer, iconic symbol of MidCoast’s working waterfront, chosen as first project.

(ROCKLAND, MAINE) – Save America’s Treasures, a part of the National Park Service, has awarded the Association for Maritime Preservation (AMP) a $300,000 matching grant to restore/refurbish the Schooner J. & E. Riggin, National Historic Landmark, now providing historic, multi-day sailing adventures out of Rockland, Maine.

Just as with old houses, where roofs, porches, electrical or plumbing need updating or replacing, every wooden vessel needs major attention every 30 to 40 years. The Riggin was built in 1927 and her first major work was in the 70’s when she received only a partial rebuild. She is long overdue for a major rebuild and while the proverbial roof has not yet fallen in, we don’t want to wait until its such a crisis. For future generations to enjoy her as she is now, a rebuild is essential.

The total cost of a full rebuild is 1.2 million which will cover the needed replacement of all framing, fastenings, planking and decking. It will employ close to 50 craftsmen from the local area. As the grant is matching, Association for Maritime Preservation must raise another $300,000 to secure the funding.

The Schooner J. & E. Riggin is one of only four remaining sail-powered oyster-dredgers from the Golden Age of sail. Experiential learning is the crux of what the Riggin does: pulling on a line rigged in a traditional 1920′s style can literally pull you back to a time when schooner travel carved out a nation’s artery of commerce.

 “While our names are on the mortgage papers, we don’t actually consider ourselves owners but stewards of a piece of American history. This grant goes a long way to ensuring that we pass the Riggin onto the next generation healthy and secure,” says Captain Finger. When asked about the award, Anne Mahle, the Riggin’s co-steward and Finger’s wife said, “We are so grateful for the chance to make a difference by preserving history in this way. All of us in the Maine windjammer community have an abiding love for these majestic schooners and we’d hate to see them die out due to lack of care.”

The Riggin’s economic impact in the State of Maine is significant, totaling approximately $300,000 annually. Thanks to seven remaining windjammers that sail from this city’s port, Rockland currently boasts the title, “Windjammer Capital of the World.” The Rockland windjammers bring an average of 3,500 guests to the city every year, 35.2% of whom continue their stay in the state. The businesses and their passengers collectively have an impact of over $5.3 million state-wide and $2.5 million in Rockland. The Riggin was one of the first 50 businesses to be awarded Leadership in Environmental Hospitality by the State of Maine. Through eco-tourism she provides an experience of our natural and historic worlds.

The grants, administered by the National Park Service, the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities, are extremely competitive. This year over 420 applications were received and only 44 grants awarded.

“Not only do Maine windjammers like the J and E Riggin play an important role in our economy by bringing visitors to our state, they are also part of a unique chapter of Maine history,” said Chellie Pingree, U.S. Congresswoman. “ It’s important to me that we preserve these beautiful vessels so they can continue to work the Maine coast.”

About the Association for Maritime Preservation:
The Association for Maritime Preservation is a non-profit created for learning about and preserving living history and nautical artifacts including sailing vessels, places and equipment. For more information please visit www.maritimepreservation.org.

About the Schooner J. & E. Riggin:
The J. & E. Riggin was originally built in 1927 in Dorchester, New Jersey as an oystering schooner. Now family owned, the traditional two-masted schooner was converted to a passenger vessel in 1974 to accommodate 24 passengers. The boat sails between Boothbay to the southwest and Bar Harbor to the east just like they did a hundred years ago, with the wind and tide to determine the course and destination; they have no set itinerary. The experience gives passengers a taste of what life was like aboard these ships centuries ago.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sharon Kitchens 207.542.3723 skpr@skpublicrelations.com

A big thanks to Chellie Pingree‘s office! It is with great pleasure that we can announce that Save America’s Treasures, a part of the National Parks Service, has awarded a matching $300,000 grant toward the preservation of maritime history. Extensive refurbishing of the Schooner J. & E. Riggin, a 1927 oyster-dredger and a National Historic Landmark, will be our first big project. The work is scheduled for the winter of 2010-11 and will encompass the replacing of fastenings, framing and decking primarily in the center of the vessel. This work will insure her longevity for the next 40 years.

Working together to preserve our collective American history

The Schooner J. & E. Riggin is a Maine windjammer who now shares her history by plying the coastal Maine waters of Penobscot Bay and surrounds on multi-day adventures. Her passengers have the unique experience of living on an historic schooner and immersing themselves in an authentic, maritime adventure.

While the writing of the grant consumed some time, the work at hand now is to raise the matching $300,000. With one phone call, we are half way there to our goal of $600,000. Please consider us in your year end giving and in your 2010 and 2011 gifting plan.

The Schooner Adventure during her "windjammer" years. Photo from Capt. Jim Sharp

We are pleased to let you know that you can help preserve a maritime National Historic Landmark with just the click of a button.   American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation just named Schooner Adventure as a participant in this year’s Partners in Preservation program in Greater Boston. If successful, Adventure will receive $100,000 for new spars. All you have to do is visit Partners in Preservation to cast your vote. The voting started April 14th and will go through May 17th. You can vote once a date, every day. There are 25 choices and the one with the most votes wins. We of course would love to see the Adventure receive this funding.

Please take just a moment to visit the site, register to vote and click on the Schooner Adventure. Then be sure to come back once a day. And as the Schooner Adventure director Joanne Souza says “It’s fun, it’s fast, and your votes are needed!”

Last year over 240 hrs were donated by volunteers who helped with sanding, painting,  carpentry, epoxy work,  and anything else the Schooner J. & E. Riggin and her stewards we needed an extra hand with.  This year the educational piece will include teaching and passing along the skills and knowledge of helping to preserve historic wooden vessels. This included: the use of oakum – spinning, caulking, and the use of; sanding and painting; metal work; small boat repair – yawl boat and peapod; and servicing of blocks.

We hope that you will consider joining this the 5th annual Work & Learn week and be a part of the preparing the schooner for the sailing season. Call the J. & E. Riggin office to schedule your shift at 800.869.0604 or (207) 594-1875.

 In this blog you will hear about projects we are working on as well as other news in the maritime world having to do with preserving our maritime heritage. If you see or hear something that might be of interest to our readers, please email us. If you are reading this you must have the same passion for the relics of our maritime history as we do. Please take a look at how you can be involved with preservation efforts or to make a donation and save a piece of maritime history.