The historic 85 -year -old wooden schooner, Theresa E. Connor, described as the flagship of the Atlantic Fishing Museum in Lunenburg, NS, faces an uncertain future.
In the need for repair, he was removed from the dock out of the museum in February and is now in the Lunenburg shipyard waiting for an evaluation.
The 139 feet boat (42 meters) was commissioned by the Maritime National Fish Company and built in Lunenburg in the Smith and Rhuland shipyard, which also built the Bluenose and Bluenose II.
The schooners like Theresa E. Connor would navigate the big banks and displayed doras for cod. The ship is the last of its kind in Canada.
Rob Maguire, spokesman for the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, confirmed the state of the boat in an email.
“Several structural problems were identified, and the ship has been taken out of the water in the Lunenburg shipyard for a complete evaluation,” Maguire said in email.
“We are working closely with our colleagues in the Museum and with the Department of Public Works to determine the best course of action.”
Dan Moreland, a prominent figure in the Navigation Community of Lunenburg and the captain of the castle of Pictton, described Theresa E. Connor as “an invaluable artifact.”
He said that the income generated by boats such as the schooner helped to build the city.
“You don’t need to do a forensic survey to realize that you need a walnut soup review,” he said.
“She is a cathedral who needs to be restored. When Notre Dame burned, they did not hesitate to fix it.”
Bradison Boutilier, owner of the Lunenburg shipyard, confirmed the presence of the boat and the commitment of the shipyard with his care.
Boutilier said there was an implicit obligation to take care of local historical ships when he acquired the shipyard in 2023.
Due to the age and condition of Theresa E. Connor, the shipyard worked with the community and an engineering company to coordinate the move, Boutilier said.
“We assume the responsibility of changing the ship and transporting the ship and the work was done well and safely,” he said. “She is out of the water and waits for her next state.”
He pointed out that there is little cost to store the container.
While the shipyard can evaluate the ship, Boutilier said that the restoration would involve specialized trades within the community.
He said there is a strong impulse of the museum and the community so that the ship checks and returns to the water.
But he said that the fate of the ship is out of his hands. He said it would depend on the province to discover “what are the economy.” There is still no estimate on a possible cost.
The Fishing Museum did not respond to an interview application.
