Modesty (sloop) facts for kids
Modesty on display at the Long Island Maritime Museum in January 2008
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Owner |
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| Builder | Wood & Chute Shipyard, Greenport, Suffolk County, New York |
| Cost | $4,000 |
| Launched | July 1923 |
| Refit | Restored 1975-1980 |
| Status | Museum ship since 1974 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Shellfish dredging sloop |
| Length | 35 ft 9 in (10.90 m) |
| Beam | 12 ft 2 in (3.71 m) |
| Draft | 2 ft 8 in (0.81 m) |
| Propulsion | 1 × 2-cycle 16 hp (12 kW) Gafka gasoline engine |
| Sail plan | Gaff rig |
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Modesty (south-sider sloop)
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Modesty in November 2009
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| Location | West Sayville, New York |
| NRHP reference No. | 01001051 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | August 7, 2001 |
| Designated NHL | August 7, 2001 |
The Modesty is a special kind of boat called an oyster sloop. It was built in 1923 by the Wood and Chute Shipyard in Greenport, Long Island. Today, you can visit the Modesty at the Long Island Maritime Museum in West Sayville, New York.
The Modesty was designed to look like another boat called the Honest, which was built in 1892. It has a special sail setup called a gaff-rig. It also has a wide shape, like a catboat, and a gasoline engine to help it move.
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What is the Modesty?
Oystermen, who work with oysters, called the Modesty a true "southsider." This means it was perfect for working in the shallow waters of Long Island's bays. It is thought to be the very last sailing boat built on Long Island specifically for dredging scallops.
The Modesty is a beautiful boat with graceful lines. It has a wide shape and sits low in the water. Its shallow bottom allowed it to work in the oyster and scallop beds of Long Island's bays and the rivers in Connecticut.
Why Was Modesty Built with Sails?
It might seem strange that a sailing boat was built in 1923, when many boats were using engines. But there was a law from before World War I that said only boats using sail power could dredge for scallops. This law made sure boats like Modesty were still built and used.
Modesty worked as a scallop dredger in the Peconic Bay until 1936. After that, it moved to Connecticut to dredge for oysters. From 1948 to 1974, the boat was used for fun by different owners as a pleasure yacht.
Modesty's Journey to the Museum
The Long Island Maritime Museum bought the Modesty in 1976. Theodore Haupt, who was the boat's first owner, was there when the museum received it.
The museum worked hard to restore the Modesty to its original glory. This restoration took place from 1975 to 1980. When it was relaunched in 1980, it was christened with champagne mixed with water from the Great Peconic Bay and the Great South Bay.
During the restoration, old coins were found under the mast. A new 1880 penny was placed there too, along with the old coins. This is a tradition for good luck.
A National Treasure
In 2001, the Modesty was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important part of American history.
Today, the Modesty is docked next to another historic oyster dredging sloop called Priscilla, which was built in 1888. Nearby is the 1908 Rudolph Oyster House. Both of these are also National Historic Landmarks.
