A Vision for Reconstruction and Education
For nearly seven decades, the sardine carrier JACOB PIKE served the coast of Maine, hauling large catches of herring (aka sardines) to canneries that, in turn, supported the local economies of dozens of towns.
During World War II, the industry expanded dramatically (abundant sardines and hungry troops) and peaked around 1950. New carriers followed the trend, being constructed and launched all along the Maine coast during the 1930s and ‘40s. Six notable purpose-built carriers came from the Newbert & Wallace yard in Thomaston beginning in 1947 and ending with the 83-foot JACOB PIKE in 1949 which was considered “Queen of the Fleet.”
This handsome vessel served the industry for over 60 years, through its boom times until its demise in 2010 when the last cannery closed. She had outlasted almost all others of her type when she sank during a 2024 winter storm and was later raised and scrapped.
Drawings by David Cockey
To celebrate the memory of this iconic vessel and the industry it served, and to create a floating platform for coordinated Gulf of Maine marine education programs, the Jacob Pike Organization (JPO) was formed. It aims to blend coastal history with a cautionary tale of the rise and fall of one of the Maine coast’s most economically significant industries.
Initially JPO will provide an educational platform that other 501(c)(3) organizations will have access to through a “Virtual Floating Laboratory” program to help monitor the ecological health of Maine’s coastal waters.
The reconstructed JACOB PIKE, a new vessel, will look exactly like the original outwardly, but be built to last longer and to be cared for easier. Below deck she’ll be laid out for versatility so as to support a variety of missions. Pinning down construction details and stockpiling materials lie ahead and we’re looking forward to developing that phase of the project.
We ask for your assistance in bringing this effort to fruition, whether it be through spreading the word, making a donation, or lending a hand. It can only be made possible through your help.
