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Gundalow Shutterplank Party Sept 28

Gundalow_Shutterplank00MARK YOUR CALENDAR

The Gundalow Company will be holding the Shutter Plank Party on Wednesday September 28th from 5-7pm. A whiskey or shutter plank is the last plank, which needs to be put in place to finish a ship's hull. The Shutter Plank Party is an old tradition where a glass of the captain’s favorite drink is poured on the plank. (Continued below)

 

After the shutter plank is put on, the hull can then be treated, caulked, and painted, and work begins on the inner fixtures of the boat. It is traditional to celebrate the mounting of this special plank as once the shutter or whiskey plank is installed, a major milestone in the construction has been reached. Music provided by Jeff Murdock, Ramona Connelly and friends; food by Seaport Fish, and beer from Smuttynose Brewery. The public are welcome, $20 per person - pay online or call Meridith at 603-433-9505

When fundraising began in earnest early in 2010 to raise $1.2m for the capital campaign to build the new gundalow, committed supporters of the non-profit education organization stepped up to the plate as funders. The very first local business to commit to a major gift was Piscataqua Savings Bank.

“The history, culture, and the special coastal environment that we enjoy in the Portsmouth area is of utmost importance to Piscataqua Savings Bank.” Jay S. Gibson, President/CEO Piscataqua Savings Bank continued,

Gundalow_Shutterplank01

“We enthusiastically support the Gundalow Company’s Capital Campaign to build a new Gundalow that will enable the organization to further spread the captivating story of the Piscataqua Region.”  The new gundalow’s cannon will bear the name of the bank for posterity as it sails the local waterways.

Appledore Engineering, a division of Tighe&Bond, donated the site engineering and permitting support for the shipyard last year as well as hosting two social events for the organization. Gregg M. Mikolaities, P.E., shared that “we have been a proud supporter of the Gundalow Company. The enthusiasm and dedication of the staff and board of directors is remarkable. The mission to link the region’s past with the need to protect it for the future is incredibly timely given the urgency to protect the Piscataqua River and Great Bay regions. The construction of a new Gundalow is a unique and wonderful way to bring this message to the Seacoast communities.”

“We are still looking to raise an additional $300,000 to complete our campaign and finish the boat,” said Gundalow Company’s Executive Director, Molly Bolster. “Whether you adopt a plank at $1,000, or a lifejacket at $50 or the wheel and tiller at $50,000, there is a part of this unique vessel that everyone can invest in.” For a list of the nearly 400 additional business, foundation and private donors, and information on contributing to the new gundalow, go to www.gundalow.org.

About the Gundalow Company: Since 2002, the non-profit Gundalow Company has used the Captain Edward H. Adams – a replica modeled after the last gundalow to carry cargo on the bay – to provide “dockside” programs to more than 100,000 visitors.  Recognizing the need to get students of all ages to genuinely connect with their rivers and bay, the Gundalow Company is building a new gundalow that will be certified by the U.S. Coast Guard for passenger-carrying vessels. The shipyard at Puddle Dock is open daily from 10am-5pm with admission to Strawbery Banke, or free to members.

For centuries, gundalows connected up-river seacoast communities with Portsmouth, the region’s seaport and primary market town.  Harnessing the wind and riding the tide, gundalows moved bricks, hay, firewood, and goods crucial to the economy and everyday life. The Gundalow Company takes its inspiration from the vital role of those historic gundalows, vessels unique to the Piscataqua Maritime Region.  This new gundalow’s educational purpose is as important for the future as its predecessors were for the past. For more information, www.gundalow.org or 603-433-9505.

 

 

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