Priscilla (sloop) facts for kids
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Priscilla (Long Island Sound Oyster Sloop)
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Priscilla at the dock.
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| Location | West Sayville, New York |
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| Built | 1888 |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000238 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 17, 2006 |
| Designated NHL | February 17, 2006 |
Priscilla is a very old and special boat called an oyster dredging sloop. She is now a museum ship at the Long Island Maritime Museum. Built way back in 1888, Priscilla is the oldest boat still around from the big fleet of oyster boats that worked in the Great South Bay. Because she is so important, she was named a National Historic Landmark in 2006. You can find her docked near another famous sloop, the Modesty.
Contents
The Story of Priscilla
Building a New Boat
On April 7, 1888, a boat builder named Elisha Saxton launched a brand new working boat called Priscilla. He built her on the Patchogue River for a man named George Rhinehart from Lawrence, New York. Mr. Rhinehart decided to name the boat after his wife, Priscilla.
Working on the Water
From 1888 all the way to 1963, Priscilla was owned by several different oystermen. These oystermen were from Connecticut and New York. During these years, the boat changed hands many times. The oystermen often called her "Pris."
They said she was a fast, strong, and "smart" boat. She was known as a "money maker" because she could collect oysters well in both light and strong winds. Other boats often struggled in different weather conditions.
A New Life for Priscilla
By 1963, the oyster beds were in trouble. They were either completely used up or covered with mud from big storms and hurricanes. This meant there were not many oysters left to collect. Priscilla is one of the very last oyster sloops from New York.
From 1963 to 1976, Priscilla was changed into a boat for cruising and sailing for fun. Her hull (the main body of the boat) and inside parts were repaired and made new.
Her owner, John Woodside, sailed Priscilla on many trips. He sailed her several times to the Bahamas and to Maine. In the early 1970s, he changed her sails to be "schooner-rigged." This meant her sails looked like those of the famous schooner America.
Becoming a Museum Ship
In 1976, John Woodside gave Priscilla to the Suffolk Marine Museum. Today, this museum is known as The Long Island Maritime Museum. Priscilla is the biggest boat in the museum's collection.
She has traveled all around the Great South Bay, visiting different towns and ports. She has also taken part in special boat races for classic old boats. In 1986, she was part of the "Parade of Tall Ships." This was a big celebration for the Statue of Liberty's birthday on the Fourth of July in New York Harbor. Priscilla was even shown on TV by WABC-TV!
