The “Helen McColl” was named for the daughter of the Seacoast Canning Company manager, Francis P. McColl.
“The vessel “Helen McColl” “was often referred to as the “Queen” or “Flagship” of the Seacoast [Canning Company] fleet. She had fine lines, was long and narrow with two masts and no wheelhouse.” She was similar to the “Mildred McColl” built in 1913 and named for Helen’s mother, Mary Permelia “Mildred” (Smith) McColl.
She was originally built [in 1911 by the Adams Ship Building Company at East Boothbay, Maine as a “knock about” schooner to be used to freight lobsters from Nova Scotia to Boston… She was 65 feet, seven inches long on the keel and 16 feet, six inches wide and built with natural-growth timbers. She was powered with an auxiliary engine and sails on her two masts. In 1912 she had work done to her in Lepreau, N.B.
…In 1954, the Seaboard Packing Co. was sold to Stinson Canning Co. and they took over ownership of the “Helen McColl.” Her new Master was Kermit Thurston and he ran fish to Stinson’s factories in South West Harbor, Bath and Prospect Harbor, Maine.” - “Masts and Masters: A Brief History of Sardine Carriers and Boatmen” by John D. Gilman, published by John D. Gilman, 1993, p. 60-63. See the book for an extensive history of the McColl’s seagoing life and masters.
“1911, 65’7” x 16’5” x 6’6” at East Boothbay for Seabord Packing Co. of Eastport. 36 Gross x 17 Net, call WAS757, No. 208535. Some of the skippers who worked her were Liscomb Hartford, Sumner Hartford, Ott Cline, Ned Hallett, Hal Grew, Sam Herley, Art Sirles, Heber McNeil. Arnie Cline in summer of 1918 ran her with Somerville Anderson. It has been recorded that the three master “Lillian E. Kerr,” the lumber schooner out of Machias, was towed through Lubec Narrow to a safe anchorage in Johnson’s Bay by the “McCall,” ahead of a bad spell of weather. In the middle 1960’s she was running fish to Bath. In the old days she made occasional pleasure trips across to N.S. to the Annapolis Valley cherry picking rinktums and shin digs. She was sold to Pacific Northwest.” - Sardine Carriers and Seiners of the Maine Coast compiled and written by Paul E. Bennett, The St. Pierre Doriman, p. 31 – 1992 with additions from “Canned: A History of the Sardine Industry,” Part II, by John Gilman, privately published, September 2003, p. 30.
