History
editThe L.A. Dunton was designed by Thomas McManus and constructed by Arthur D. Story at his shipyard in Essex, Massachusetts in 1921.[1][2] The Dunton was named after one of the investors, Louis A. Dunton, a sail maker from Boothbay Harbor, Maine.[1]
The register in 1922 lists the Dunton as being 104.3' long, with a 25' beam and 11.6' draft and weighing in at 134 gross tons and 94 net tons.[1]
Captain Felix J. Hogan owned and operated the Dunton as a fishing vessel from 1921 to 1934.[3] By 1923, Hogan had the Dunton powered by a 100 horsepower Fairbanks-Morse engine.[2] Hogan operated the Dunton from Cape Cod to Newfoundland to catch halibut, haddock and occasionally cod.[3] In 1934, Hogan sold the Dunton to Aaron Buffett of Newfoundland for use in his company.[1] The new owner's had the Dunton's rig and bowspirit was removed and a 160 horsepower engine was installed.[1] The alterations resulted in the Dunton no longer being a sailing vessel despite the short foresail and riding sail.[1] The fishing vessel was sold to Erik Percy in 1955 for coasting before J.B. Foote purchased the ship in 1960.[1] Foote altered the ship and hold to increase the cargo capacity of the Dunton.[1]
In September 1963, the Mystic Seaport Museum acquired the Dunton and began to restore the Dunton to its original schooner configuration both internally and externally.[1][4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i D'Estang, Nancy; German, Andrew (25 January 1993). "National Historic Landmark Nomination / L. A. Dunton" (pdf). National Park Service. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
- ^ a b "L.A. Dunton". Mystic Seaport. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ a b "Fishing Schooner L.A. Dunton". Historical Marker Database. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
- ^ "1960s - Mystic Seaport". Mystic Seaport. Retrieved 23 November 2013.