Buckshutem A.J. Meerwald — New Jersey’s Tall Edward G Bevan Go Aboard Fish & Wildlife Port Elizabeth Management Area Authentically restored 1928 Delaware Bay , owned and operated by the Bayshore Center at Bivalve New Jersey’s Tall Ship, 555 A.J. Meerwald the A.J. Meerwald ! COMMERCIAL TOWNSHIP Bricksboro The Schooner A.J. Meerwald is a “new style” Specifications schooner, a type built between 1925 and 1930 to plant and Owned and operated by Bayshore Center at Bivalve. Mauricetown 347 harvest . In the 1920s, the oyster industry prospered due • Rig: Schooner — a type of • Draft: 6' of the hull is New Jersey’s sailing vessel with two or more in the water, 12' if the Dorchester to improvements in schooner design including a larger dredge masts with sails that are fore- centerboard is down to collect oysters, a spoon bow design that provided a larger 553 Leesburg 550 and-aft (in line). Mainmast • Freeboard: 3'6" distance Port deck space, and an engine to use during harvesting. is taller than the Foremast from the waterline to Norris 47 Official Tall Ship • Gaff-rigged: sails framed the deck level by wood on three sides Matt’s Landing • Sail area: 3,562 square feet A.J. MEERWALD The A.J. Meerwald sets sail from many TALL SHIP • Bald headed: lacks ports throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, • Construction (wooden): • aurice RiverHeislerville Masts: 68' Mainmast and hull – white oak, deck – M but her home port is at the Bayshore Center located in historic 65' Foremast cedar, spars – Douglas fir Heislerville Fish & Wildlife Delmont Bivalve, New Jersey, the “Oyster Capital of the World”! When (masts, booms, ) Maurice Management • Sparred length: 115' from Area Corson River Cove Fish & Wildlife visiting the Bayshore Center be sure to explore the Delaware bowsprit to end of main • Weight: 57 tons gross Management Area Bay Museum inside the 1904 Oyster Shipping Sheds and a • Length on deck: 85' registered tonnage or East Point Thompson’s delicious bite to eat at the Oyster Cracker Café. Open seasonally. 114,000 pounds. That’s Beach • Load waterline length: 78'3" the equivalent of 28 cars! Moore’s Beach • Beam: 22'5" wide

©

Jan van de Kam, NL Delaware Bay Join us for a public, Then... educational, or charter sail

and now Bayshore Center at Bivalve 2800 High Street (Bivalve) Port Norris, New Jersey 08349 (856) 785-2060

bayshorecenter.org

© Jan van de Kam, NL Kam, de van Jan The mission of Bayshore Center at Bivalve is to advance the understanding of the human impact on New Jersey’s aquatic environment through education, advocacy, and programming.

Call for more information or visit us online for the latest Go Sailing schedule. The Bayshore Center at Bivalve received an operating support grant from the (856) 785-2060 or bayshorecenter.org Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the New Jersey Historical Commission, a WHERE HISTORY AND THE Division of the Department of State. ENVIRONMENT MEET The Roaring 20s Enduring the Great Depression — 1930s August 26, 1947 The family sells the A.J. Meerwald to Clyde A. Restoration, Resilience, Renewal — Phillips for $30,000. Mrs. Phillips changes the name to Clyde A. Phillips 1923-1930 “New Style” oyster , like the A.J. Meerwald, 1932-1939 Hard times fall upon and converts it to power. 1970s & 1980s are built around the Maurice and Cohansey Rivers to make the Meerwald family. 1970s — Automation improvements to schooner design. On July 23, 1935, the U.S. Marshal sells The oyster industry introduces the A.J. Meerwald at auction to repay a self-dumping dredge and 1928 Brothers Augustus “Gus” and William “Bill” Meerwald contract creditors. with Stowman & Sons Shipyard in Dorchester, NJ, to build the automated culling systems. Schooner A.J. Meerwald. Augustus and William’s wives, Edna and Florence, purchase the boat from 1969-1985 — Oysters The boat is named after their father, Clyde A. Phillips at Marino’s, Bivalve Texas-Pacific Realty Co. with backing MSX mortality is low and oyster Photo by Steve Eisenhauser, 1995, BCB collection, gift of photographer Augustus Joseph (A.J.) Meerwald. from their parents. abundance improves since 1957. Captain August 31, 1928 1936-1942 The A.J. Meerwald is Clyde A. Phillips November 1986 September 12, 1995 circa 1939 The A.J. Meerwald is launched. inactive and tied up in Dennis Creek. Clyde A. Phillips under motor John M. Gandy finds the Volunteer John Dubois, Re-christened as the Photo, BCB collection, gift of Clyde A. Phillips BCB Founder Meghan Wren and A.J. Meerwald. Capt. and Mrs. Clyde A. Phillips in Maryland John Gandy at the restoration site 1929 New Jersey produces A.J. Meerwald (Mary) and purchases her. He plans to Photo, BCB collection 1998 The A.J. Meerwald one third of all U.S. oysters. Photo courtesy of Dennis Township restore her to sail. Museum & History Center Environmental Reckonings — 1950s & 1960s is designated New Jersey’s Official Tall Ship due to 1957 – MSX the efforts of a letter- writing campaign. Wartime Mobilization — 1940s The oyster industry Follow the History of the A.J.Meerwald from the Roaring 20s to Today Meghan Wren at the re-christening USCG 86001-F & The Clyde A. Phillips is devastated by MSX, of the A.J. Meerwald a protozoan parasite.

Gus (left) and 1958-1986 Bill (right) Meerwald Clyde A. Phillips has 2018 The A.J. Meerwald Photo, BCB collection, and Gladys Meerwald gift of Sue Lane multiple owners and falls Brewer, Augustus C. and Newspaper Clipping, into disarray. Dollar Weekly News, Clyde A. Phillips in restoration Edna Meerwald’s daughter, August 21, 1928, Meghan Wren BCB collection 1959 Cornelius “Nicky” celebrate their 90th Beautiful homes once reflected a September 1988 The Clyde A. Phillips Founder, BCB Campbell and Albert F. birthdays. prosperous economy prior to MSX in 1957. Foundation, later Delaware Bay Schooner Project, Mollinkopf purchase the Postcard, BCB collection, gift of Bill Biggs Governor Christine Todd Whitman Bayshore Discovery Project, and now the Bayshore Center at Bivalve, at Bivalve, NJ boat and convert her to is formed by 23-year old Meghan Wren, who leads the organization dredge clams offshore. for 29 years. John Gandy donates the boat. Surf clam rig removed and Major outfitting including stabilization efforts begin. metal decking and hull A.J. Meerwald as fireboat USCG 86001-F sheathing. All of the October 1988 After 10 years of being idle, Clyde A. Phillips sinks Photo by Robert Brewer, 1947, BCB collection, gift of the photographer equipment adds 10 tons in the Maurice River and is raised. of extra weight. June 1, 1942 The A.J. Meerwald is commandeered for the war effort. She is turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard and outfitted as a fireboat. New Era & Recognition of 1945 Delaware Bay schooners convert from sail to engine power to the Delaware Bay — 1990s to Today improve efficiency and address the labor shortage caused by the war and new opportunities. 1990 — Dermo The parasite Perkinsus marinus causes oyster mortality rates to double. January 1947 After nearly five years, the A.J. Meerwald is returned to the Meerwald family for private use. January 18, 1992 The Clyde A. Phillips is lifted from the Maurice River and set on blocking in Bivalve. Everett Marino of Dill’s in Deck of Clyde A. Phillips Clyde A. Phillips Bridgeton makes his site in Bivalve available to be used as a shipyard. Work AJM at Barnegat Bay A.J. Meerwald, 1929 Photos by Clyde A. Phillips, Photo, BCB collection, gift of Lisa R. Yerges BCB collection, gift of Clyde A. Phillips is achieved through volunteer labor, donated services and fundraisers. Photo by Tola Murphy-Baran, 2018, courtesy of the photographer