EVELINA M. GOULART
One of only seven surviving historic Essex-built schooners.
Built in the A.D. Story shipyard in 1927 and used until 1985 for swordfishing and dragging, the museum acquired EVELINA M. GOULART in 1990.
EVELINA is one of only seven surviving pre-1950 Essex-built schooners, and is the only surviving example of a schooner dragger. Her intact fo’c’s’le, fish hold, engine room and main cabin are evidence of the quality and ruggedness of Essex vessels and evoke the stories of the families and crews that owned and worked on the vessel in its 58 year-long career.
An except from A.D. Story’s yard book detailing some of the expenses from the EVELINA M. GOULART’s construction.
This Atlas Imperial Marine Diesel advertisement from 1938 shows EVELINA rigged for swordfishing.
By 1957, the EVELINA M. GOULART was engaged in dragging year round. The schooner is hauled on the Burnham Brothers railways, which are now owned and operated by Maritime Gloucester.
June 29th, 1927
EVELINA M. GOULART is launched from the A.D. Story Shipyard. The vessel was towed to Gloucester to have its engine and other equipment installed. EVELINA was then fitted out for swordfishing with a long bowsprit and striking pulpit, a tall fore-topmast with crows nests, and a stack of dories. This first season out, EVELINA and its crew set records for the number of swordfish landed, and the largest swordfish landed.
Late 1927
With the swordfishing season over, EVELINA was re-rigged for winter dragging. The tall topmast and long bowsprit were removed, and the dories were put ashore. A pilothouse was constructed around the wheel to keep the captain and crew out of the brutal winter weather, and dragging gear replaced the swordfishing harpoons, barrels, and gaffs. EVELINA continued this seasonal rhythm of fishing for swordfish in the summer and dragging for groundfish in the winter until the mid-1950’s.
Mid 1950’s
With local stocks of swordfish becoming scarce, EVELINA was permanently rigged as a dragger and began working in that fishery year-round. In addition to the now permanent pilothouse, the vessel gained a whaleback at the bow for additional gear storage and left its topmast and long bowsprit ashore for good.
Mid 1950’s to 1985
EVELINA continued dragging year-round; after a change in ownership, EVELINA began fishing out of New Bedford, MA.
September 27th, 1985
During Hurricane Gloria, another vessel drifted down onto EVELINA, striking it in the stern. The crew started the pumps and made it safely back to their dock on the Fairhaven side of New Bedford Harbor. The cost of repairing the 58 year-old dragger was deemed too prohibitive, and the engine and other valuable gear were removed. The fishing career of EVELINA M. GOULART was officially over.
1990
EVELINA is raised, temporarily repaired, and returns to Essex thanks to the efforts of Captain Bob Douglas and many other dedicated volunteers.
1995
Following ESM’s acquisition of the former Story Shipyard, EVELINA is moved from the Essex town landing to its current location at the North end of the shipyard.
2010
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of EVELINA’s return to Essex, ESM held a four part symposium celebrating the vessel, its place in the history of the fishing industry, and its future.