Peapod Boat Arrives at Rockland Breakwater Light in Grand Fashion
In a fitting tribute to our lighthouse heritage and the
modern day “keepers” who have worked tirelessly to restore it, a
historic peapod boat arrived at Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse on August
15, 2010 the old fashioned way – by being rowed across Rockland Harbor.
The wooden peapod boat, which is owned by the Friends of
Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse,
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
A late-1800s restored wooden peapod boat
was rowed from the Rockland public
landing to Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse
under a Coast Guard escort on August 15, 2010
was launched from
Rockland’s public landing on the morning of the 15th following a
brief shore-side ceremony that was made possible in part by the Maine Boats,
Homes & Harbors Show. The peapod had been on display at the popular boat
show during the weekend.
Rockland City Councilor Brian Harden, Eric Stockinger, executive director
for The Apprenticeshop, and Eric Davis, chair of the Friends of Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse (FRBL), made remarks about the significance of the
occasion just prior to the boat’s launching.
Twenty-four
minutes later, despite a stiff southwest breeze blowing across the harbor,
the peapod and its four occupants, along with a Coast Guard
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
The peapod arrived at the lighthouse
after
a 24-minute row from the public landing
(back to front) Gordon Kalberg,
Kevin Carney,
Brian McClellan and Dave Massimi
escort from
Station Rockland, arrived at Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. A number of
spectators greeted them along the breakwater, including a group of Coast
Guard volunteers from Station Rockland, and cutters TACKLE and ABBIE
BURGESS, who were on hand to help pull the boat from the water.
The peapod boat’s trip to the lighthouse was nothing short of history in the
making for those involved.
“I am thrilled that the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse
extended Coast Guard Station Rockland an invitation to assist them with the
peapod’s final voyage across Rockland Harbor,” said Chief Warrant Officer
Sebastian Arnsdorf, commanding officer of Station Rockland. “We were honored
to have participated in this event, as it highlights Rockland Breakwater
Light’s history, as well as preserving a piece of Rockland’s heritage for
the future.”
Chief Warrant
Officer Arnsdorf went on to note, “Even to this day, the Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse serves its purpose as a navigation landmark for
the harbor and it is wonderful to see its history celebrated by the
community and the Coast Guard together.”
Upon the
peapod’s arrival at Rockland Breakwater, spectators listened to
additional remarks commemorating the occasion from Rockland
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
U.S. Coast Guard volunteers help pull the
peapod boat from the water at Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse (L to R)
CWO Sebastian Arnsdorf, BMC Jesse Deery, MKC Christopher Wilson and
Auxiliarist Bob Trapani, Jr.
City Councilor
Elizabeth Dickerson, who fittingly rowed herself out to the lighthouse for
the ceremony, Chief Warrant Officer Sebastian Arnsforf, Kevin Carney, a
boat-building instructor from The Apprenticeshop and FRBL’s Eric Davis.
“The restoration
of the peapod was a joint project, bringing both individuals and
organizations within the community together, utilizing their respective
expertise in the collaborative effort to preserve a piece of history for
future generations,” said Eric Davis, FRBL chairman. “This accomplishment
draws us one step closer to our ultimate goal of having the lighthouse and
all of its working parts fully restored and able to be enjoyed by the entire
community, as well as the many visitors to the area.”
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Volunteers from the Friends of Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse, The Apprenticeshop and the Coast Guard gather for
a group photo with the peapod (L to R) SN Patrick Bagliore, MKC
Christopher Wilson, Kevin Carney, Brian McClellan, CWO Sebastian
Arnsdorf, AUX Bob Trapani, Jr., BMC Jesse Deery, Eric Davis,
Tricia Dixon, Sally Cran and Brian Trask
Brian McClellan of The Apprenticeshop joined Kevin Carney
for the event at the lighthouse. Both individuals not only rowed the
peapod to the lighthouse, they also placed a wealth of time and talent
into the peapod’s restoration.
Dave Massimi of Bloomington, New York, and Gordon Kalberg
of Bangor Maine, joined McClellan and Carney for the peapod’s voyage to
the lighthouse after being chosen by raffle for the privilege of riding
in the boat on this historic occasion. A second
raffle for
guessing the correct time of the row out to the lighthouse was won by Patty
Nutt of Bedford, NH.
Following the breakwater ceremony, Coast Guard volunteers concluded the
event by carrying the peapod up the lighthouse gangway and into the light
station’s restored boathouse for public display.
The late-1800s peapod, which was originally donated to the Friends of
Rockland Breakwater by John MacDonald of Windham, Maine, was a joint
restoration project by the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, and
The Apprenticeshop in Rockland, along with help from Hamilton Marine.
Other volunteers from the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, a
chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation, who helped with the peapod
boat’s restoration included: Brian Trask, Marilyn Trask, Tricia Dixon, Sally
Cran, Gary Cran, Barrett Winstead and Ted Panayotoff.
The public is invited to view the restored peapod at Rockland Breakwater
Lighthouse, which is open for tours on weekends from 10 to 5 through
Columbus Day. To learn more about the efforts of the Friends of Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse, call 207-542-7574 or visit
Chief Warrant Officer
Sebastian Arnsdorf, commanding officer of Coast Guard Station Rockland,
presented remarks during a ceremony commemorating the peapod's arrival
at Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Rockland City
Councilor Elizabeth Dickerson presented remarks during a ceremony
commemorating the peapod's arrival at Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse
Eric Davis, chairman
for the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, presented remarks
during a ceremony commemorating the peapod's arrival at Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Kevin Carney, an
instructor for The Apprenticeshop in Rockland, presented remarks during
a ceremony commemorating the peapod's arrival at Rockland Breakwater
Lighthouse
A view of Coast Guard
Station Rockland's 25-foot response boat that served as an escort for
the peapod on its voyage across Rockland Harbor to the lighthouse
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Coast Guard volunteers
assist Rockland City Councilor Elizabeth Dickerson upon her arrival at
the lighthouse. Ms. Dickerson rowed her own boat from Rockland to the
lighthouse for the occasion
Coast Guard and The
Apprenticeshop volunteers carry the restored peapod up the gangway at
the lighthouse
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Coast Guard volunteers
prepare to carry the restored peapod into the light station's boathouse
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Coast Guard and The Apprenticeshop
volunteers carry
the restored peapod up the
gangway at the lighthouse
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Coast Guard volunteers from
Station Rockland, and cutters TACKLE and
ABBIE BURGESS, carry the peapod inside the boathouse at Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse
(L to R) Kevin Carney
and Brian McClellan of The Apprenticeshop, and Brian Trask, vice-chair
of the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, were the key figures
in the peapod's restoration
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
(L to R) Coast Guard
volunteers stand with the restored peapod (L to R) SN Patrick Bagliore,
MKC Christopher Wilson, CWO Sebastian Arnsdorf, Auxiliarist Bob Trapani,
Jr. and BMC Jesse Deery
The restored
late-1800s peapod, which traces its roots back to Maine's Mount Desert
Island Light, is now on display inside the boathouse at Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse thanks to a community effort
