Lowell's Boat Shop facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lowell's Boat Shop
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Amesbury, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1793 |
| Architect | Lowell, Simeon |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000706 |
| Added to NRHP | June 9, 1988 |
Lowell's Boat Shop, also known as Hiram Lowell & Sons, is a very special place in Amesbury, Massachusetts. It's so important that it's called a National Historic Landmark. This means it's recognized as a significant part of American history. The shop was first built way back in 1793 by Simeon Lowell. In 1988, it was also added to the National Register of Historic Places.
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Birthplace of the Dory
Lowell's Boat Shop sits right on the Merrimack River. Many people believe this is where the famous New England fishing dory was first created. Simeon Lowell started building these boats. His grandson, Hiram Lowell, made the dory even better. He designed the "Banks dory," which was simpler and stronger. These boats became super important for fishing fleets in New England.
A Fisherman's Best Friend
One historian said that "A Lowell's dory to a fisherman was like a hammer to a carpenter." This shows how much fishermen relied on these boats. Hiram Lowell also came up with a smart way to build boats. It was like an early version of an assembly line. This method made Lowell's the best dory builder in the world at that time. Some even say it helped inspire Henry Ford's ideas for mass production.
Inside the Historic Shop
When you step inside the boat shop, you can see its long history. There are old ship's knees, which are curved pieces of wood used in boat frames. The floorboards are heavily worn from centuries of work. You can also see many layers of paint on the floors. The oldest buildings on the site were built in the 1860s. They show a style called Greek Revival. A special cross-beam in the shop has numbers branded into the wood. These numbers show how many boats were built each year from 1897 to 1919. In 1911 alone, they built 2,029 boats by hand! Lowell's Boat Shop is one of the few old industries left from the Merrimack Valley area.
Protecting the Boat Shop's Future
By the early 1990s, people realized the boat shop needed help to keep going. It was decided it should become a non-profit organization. The Trust for Public Land stepped in to help. They created the Lowell's Boat Shop Trust and bought the property. In 1994, they made sure the shop would be protected forever. The Newburyport Maritime assumed ownership of the shop that same year.
Lowell's Boat Shop Today
Today, Lowell's Boat Shop is still a working boat shop. It's also a living museum. They continue to build dories and skiffs using the same methods as the Lowell family did for seven generations. The shop shares its rich history through many programs.
Learning and Community Programs
- They offer boat building classes.
- You can take classes to build model dories.
- There are apprenticeships for those who want to learn boat building.
- The shop has programs for scouts, local schools, and at-risk youth.
- Volunteers help make wooden products from scrap wood. This helps the shop earn money.
- Lowell's Boat Shop works with other groups to promote boat building and tourism.
- Members can even row Lowell's dories and skiffs during the boating season.
- The shop is accessible for people with disabilities.
- You can arrange guided tours by appointment.
Building a Whaleboat Replica
In 2012, Lowell's Boat Shop joined an exciting project. They helped build a special boat for America's last remaining whale ship, the Charles W. Morgan. Local high school students helped build a copy of a Beetle-design whaleboat. This replica will travel with the Charles W. Morgan once its restoration is finished.
