For over a year [after the start of WWII] the Penobscot Bay islands had no regular ferry service. Local fishermen and boat owners filled in as best they could. Then, at a special town meeting in August 1942, Vinalhaven voted to raise $55,000 to build a powerboat. The result was a sixty-five-foot, diesel-powered “motorship” named “Vinalhaven II,” built in Southwest Harbor, Maine. The boat went into service in July 1943, and Charles Philbrook was her captain…” – “Stories from the Maine Coast: Skppers, Ships and Storms” by Harry Gratwick, The History Press, 2012, p. 54-55. "The “Vinalhaven II”, 57 gross tons owned by the Vinalhaven Port District, Inc. of Rockland was built [by Southwest Boat Corporation] in 1943 to serve the island of Vinalhaven with passenger and freight service to Rockland." - "Boatbuilding During World War II: MDI, Ellsworth, Stonington and Bluehill" by Ralph W. Stanley, p. 10 - 1997. “Vinalhaven II” was designed by Cyrus “Cy” Hamlin. “Clarence” Bennett, a fisherman, was one of the group that raised the money to build “Vinalhaven II.” – Ralph W. Stanley 2011.
Description: For over a year [after the start of WWII] the Penobscot Bay islands had no regular ferry service. Local fishermen and boat owners filled in as best they could. Then, at a special town meeting in August 1942, Vinalhaven voted to raise $55,000 to build a powerboat. The result was a sixty-five-foot, diesel-powered “motorship” named “Vinalhaven II,” built in Southwest Harbor, Maine. The boat went into service in July 1943, and Charles Philbrook was her captain…” – “Stories from the Maine Coast: Skppers, Ships and Storms” by Harry Gratwick, The History Press, 2012, p. 54-55. "The “Vinalhaven II”, 57 gross tons owned by the Vinalhaven Port District, Inc. of Rockland was built [by Southwest Boat Corporation] in 1943 to serve the island of Vinalhaven with passenger and freight service to Rockland." - "Boatbuilding During World War II: MDI, Ellsworth, Stonington and Bluehill" by Ralph W. Stanley, p. 10 - 1997. “Vinalhaven II” was designed by Cyrus “Cy” Hamlin. “Clarence” Bennett, a fisherman, was one of the group that raised the money to build “Vinalhaven II.” – Ralph W. Stanley 2011. [show more]
Left to Right: Dudman - Richard Beebe Dudman (1918-) Sloane - Helen R. (Sloane) Dudman (1918-) Stanley - Ralph Warren Stanley (1929-2021) Two unknown workmen
Description: Left to Right: Dudman - Richard Beebe Dudman (1918-) Sloane - Helen R. (Sloane) Dudman (1918-) Stanley - Ralph Warren Stanley (1929-2021) Two unknown workmen
This photograph was taken before the Manset shore was filled in. – According to Ralph Warren Stanley (1929-2021), the White boat hauled up on shore in front of the William Spurling Newman house at 102 Shore Road, Map 17 – Lot 100 – was probably built by Leslie “Les” M. Rice (1883-1966) on Great Cranberry Island for William “Uncle Jimmy” Doane Stanley (1855-1950). She was built as a double ender. Someone bought her and put a square stern on her. Work was slow at Hinckleys for awhile so Bill Dunham (Wilfred Manson Dunham (1918-2001) and Lewis Tapley (Lewis Merton Tapley (1916-1985) bought her and went fishing, though not for long. Work picked up at the Hinckley yard soon afterward. The vessel was then bought by Abner W. Lunt (1908-1975), then she was bought by Luther C. Faulkingham (1901-1993) of Prospect Harbor, where she was the last time Ralph saw her. The wharf building with the false front was the building that Francis “Frank” Thompson Chalmers Sr. (1893-1985), F. Dwight Perkins (1902-1981) and Merton S. Alley (1904-1985) had a car dealership in. Almon Frank Ramsdell Sr’s (1873-1946) garage was there later. Hinckley may have owned the building when this picture was taken. James “Jim” M. Willis (1919-2006) later ran “The Boathouse” there. See SWHPL 9363
Description: This photograph was taken before the Manset shore was filled in. – According to Ralph Warren Stanley (1929-2021), the White boat hauled up on shore in front of the William Spurling Newman house at 102 Shore Road, Map 17 – Lot 100 – was probably built by Leslie “Les” M. Rice (1883-1966) on Great Cranberry Island for William “Uncle Jimmy” Doane Stanley (1855-1950). She was built as a double ender. Someone bought her and put a square stern on her. Work was slow at Hinckleys for awhile so Bill Dunham (Wilfred Manson Dunham (1918-2001) and Lewis Tapley (Lewis Merton Tapley (1916-1985) bought her and went fishing, though not for long. Work picked up at the Hinckley yard soon afterward. The vessel was then bought by Abner W. Lunt (1908-1975), then she was bought by Luther C. Faulkingham (1901-1993) of Prospect Harbor, where she was the last time Ralph saw her. The wharf building with the false front was the building that Francis “Frank” Thompson Chalmers Sr. (1893-1985), F. Dwight Perkins (1902-1981) and Merton S. Alley (1904-1985) had a car dealership in. Almon Frank Ramsdell Sr’s (1873-1946) garage was there later. Hinckley may have owned the building when this picture was taken. James “Jim” M. Willis (1919-2006) later ran “The Boathouse” there. See SWHPL 9363 [show more]
Description: Mine Yawls were built for the army during World War II for laying and tending mines. This one could have been either a tow yawl or a mine yawl.