Dick Westcott

Shipbuilding

Dick Westcott is a history buff, and so we asked him to tell us about the history of shipbuilding in Harpswell. He brought in a map made by Admiral Alexander of the shipbuilding yards that used to exist. Most of them were on the Peninsula. There were 17 shipyards there, and one in Cundy's Harbor in the 1700 and 1800's. A total of 189 ships were built in Harpswell.

The big yard was run by George Skolfield across from where the Merriconneag farm is now. Skolfield built square‑rigged ships. These were used to carry cargo, for shipping volume. They weren't speedy like the clippers. Skolfields was a good location. It wasn't rocky like the Islands. It is a low sloping area of shore, which makes .it easy to set the ways anal launch ships. George Skolfield made 77 ships in 50 years. His last ship was named after him and it was finished in 1885. The Maine Maritime Museum has a picture of George Skolfield.

The Stovers and Curtis and Estes were the other biggest shipbuilders. They built mostly sloops and schooners. Norton Stover and Theophilius Stover lead shipyards in South Harpswell. That's the Stovers of Hannah Stover, the “Witch of Harpswell.” Curtis and Estes built their ships at Lookout Point on Harpswell Neck.