I have written a little before, about the Can Do, but wish to revisit that subject again. The Can Do had been a Pilot Boat on the North Shore, For many years when i was younger. The North Shore comprises a large area, 30 miles north of Boston. It includes waters of the Atlantic touching the shores of Revere, known for Revere Beach, Nahant, known well for two WWII fortifications, and Submarine Watch Towers, Marblehead, where most older residents are real Yankee Sailors, Salem, well know for Halloween and Witches, but really one of the oldest Seaports, with the first Customs House in the USA. , Beverly, Home of Washingtons Navy Base, and of Beverly Farms, where the very rich, built "Summer" mansions at the turn of the 20th Century. Then we have Manchester-by-the-Sea, some old Yankees, but Yuppies with fancy Sailboats, Magnolia, also many mansions on the rocky edge of the Sea, and then Gloucester, America's oldest fishing port. Rockport, yuppies know, but well known for its rockie quarries, left over from its hayday of shipping granite blocks all over the USA. If you were viewing a map, you follow the coast line to Essex, Famous Fried Clams, Lobster, Steamers,um,umm. Ipswich, Rowley,Newbury,Newburyport, another old Seaport. Then you enter New Hampshire.
The Can Do was home ported in Gloucester, although its owner,and Captain resided in Peabody. Peabody is tied to the Danvers River, but no navigable waters. Due to the Blizzard of 1978, when this area was buried in the worst 100 year snow storm you can imagine, Captain Quirk, crew, and vessel were lost! I will not get into details, but i would strongly recommend you read the book, by Michael J. Tougias, titled "Ten Hours Until Dawn".
I read the book, which was fascinating, for many reasons. First i knew alot of the basic story, second, I grew up in the waters and towns the incidents took place in, third, the Tanker in the book was within sight of the street i lived on at the time, and lastly, the Can Do had been a familiar sight in the local harbors. Everyone familiar with boating,or fishing knew the Can Do.
The Grampus, which the vessel has been know as, for the last 30 years, was raised by Burnham Marine,and still owned by the company. The name Grampus was the original name of the vessel, iron hull, 47ft in length, with only about an 8 ft beam. The pilot house is not the original, which was destroyed during the Blizzard. The Grampus is moored between the Kernwood Bridge,at the mouth of the Danvers River, the Salem/Beverly Bridge, where the North River joins into the Bass River in Beverly,and they all meet. The Mooring is within view of Mr. Burnhams residence, which sits back a few hundred yards, on an old farm,alongside the rivers edge.
For the last 3 or more years, I have only know the Grampus to be moved once, and that was about a mile down the North River, where Burnham Marine has its marine equipment stored. Now for the last month or so, people have noticed the Grampus is missing. Its large white iron mooring ball, sits idle, mooring line,loose,occasionally becoming a nesting area for our ever-hungry Seagulls. I had noticed this myself, figuring maybe the vessel had been sold or tied along the construction pier,for some paint work? After all, the hull was looking pretty bad for the last couple years, with rust blisters, and only visiting seagulls on the pilothouse roof.
I had taken my pontoon boat down the North River, purposely to see if that was the case. It wasn't there. I happened to then cruise down the Bass River, by my old house on Riverview St., where i grew up. While cruising by Hills Yacht Yard, I noticed the pilothouse of the Grampus, sticking up through the masts of drydocked boats. Well imagine that, there she was, high and dry on boat stands! I snapped a few photos, figuring this is a rare sight indeed! Next thought was to drive down for better photos on land, once I returned to my own dock.
Over the last few weeks, I have been keeping tabs of the progress on the stripping/patching/painting of the Grampus. I never seen anybody working on the vessel. Of course it is usually before or after work, or weekends, i get to view her. I hope to catch the Grampus on the straps, when they lower the hull into the Bass River.
I have also mentioned in a previous story, calling it the Ghost Ship. Partly because of the superstitious fishermen of New England. The web site for Burnham Marine states " in-spite of what some have said, She is not Haunted". Sorry, I need to disagree.... Alas, she is still a proud vessel, but I still feel sadness knowing her history, and her loneliness tied to that mooring ball.
Is the Grampus haunted...?? I suggest you read the book...then decide..... Rj
Pt 2 Salem Sound......
Around here, you either own a motorized vessel of some sort, or you are a "BlowBoater". I'll pass...
N/T
