| 1894 |
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Launched from
James & Tarr Yard, Essex,
Mass. as Effie M. Morrissey for J.F. Wonson. |
| 1894a |
 |
The Morrissey Family operates
ship |
| 1905 |
 |
New owners
sail the Morrissey out of Digby,
Nova Scotia. |
| 1912 |
 |
Record run
from Portland, Maine to Yarmouth,
Nova Scotia, at times reaching a
speed of 16 knots. |
| 1914 |
 |
Morrissey sold
to Harold Bartlett of Brigus,
Newfoundland. |
| 1926 |
 |
Sails out of
New York on her first Arctic
exploration trip sponsored by
George Palmer Putnam, Publisher. |
| 1931 |
 |
Smithsonian
Institute sponsors Morrissey
voyage to Greenland. |
| 1940 |
 |
Sails within
600 miles of North Pole. |
| 1942 |
 |
World War II,
Arctic supply and survey ship for
U.S. Navy (1942-1945). |
| 1946 |
 |
Morrissey sold
to the Jackson brothers who plan to fit her
out and sail to Tahiti to open
inter-island trade. |
| 1947 |
|
Fire in
Flushing, NY nearly ends the Morrissey's long career. |
| 1948 |
 |
Raised and
bought by Henrique Mendes of Cape
Verde Islands. Name changed to Ernestina. |
| 1949 |
 |
Ernestina
begins life as a transAtlantic
packet, carrying passengers and
goods between Cape Verde and U.S.
|
| 1950 |
 |
Ernestina's second
trip to the U.S. with eleven passengers
including six women and three children and
fourteen crewmembers. |
| 1951-1952 |
 |
Dismasted in heavy seas
sailing between Fogo and Santiago while taking
two American girls to Dakar for visas. The
falling spar nearly killed Henrique. |
| 1953 |
 |
Ernestina sailed without
engine or radio in 1953. For fifteen days they
were becalmed within one hundred miles of
Nantucket Island until Hurricane Edith came
down on them. |
| 1954 |
 |
Ricardo Lima Barros was
master and navigator for the 1954 voyages. |
| 1955 |
 |
Henrique Mendes credited the
radio with giving warning of Hurricane
"Connie." |
| 1956 |
 |
The 1956 voyage from Cape
Verde to Providence was the last one for
Arnaldo Mendes. |
| 1957 |
 |
Ernestina was hauled
and major repairs were undertaken.
Twenty-eight carpenters labored nearly a month. |
| 1958 |
 |
Besides the pen-crated
chickens allowed to roam on deck, the ship
carried a two-and-a half ton truck lashed on
deck, a bell for the new St. Lawrence’s
Church in Praia. |
| 1959-1963 |
 |
Ernestina in
Cape Verde. Capt. Evora passed
along the news of the sinking and loss of
another Cape Verdean packet, the Madalan. |
| 1964-1965 |
 |
Last
transAtlantic voyage as Cape
Verde packet with Alexander Fortes aboard as
captain. |
| 1965-1970 |
 |
Ernestina was
kept busy carrying cargo and passengers
between Mindelo, Fogo, Brava and Praia with
frequent visits to Sol, Sao Nicolau, and Santo
Antao. Henrique Mendes passes away in 1970 at
the age of 90. |
| 1972-1975 |
 |
Bartlett Exploration
Association of Philadelphia made several
offers to buy the ship from Alberto Lopes in
1972, 1975 and 1976. |
| 1976 |
 |
Ernestina on
route to bicentennial, is
dismasted and towed back to Cape
Verde. |
| 1977 |
 |
Laura Pires and Michael
Platzer organize efforts to raise funds to
restore the ship. Republic of
Cape Verde begins rebuild. UN Ambassador Andrew
Young is involved. |
| 1978 |
 |
NEH grant for interpretive
display is received through NMHS. Brooklyn
fund raiser with Pete Seeger. LA Dodgers Davy
Lopes is friend of Ernestina. Schooner Ernestina
Commission established thanks to legislation
sponsored by Rep. Tom Lopes and Senator George
Rogers. Franz Meijer
hired as shipwright in Mindelo. |
| 1979 |
 |
New Bedford comes in
behind repatriation effort |
| 1980 |
 |
Frank Braynard and Pete
Seeger call for donations |
| 1982 |
 |
People of Cape
Verde present the Ernestina to
the people of the U.S. |
| 1983 |
 |
Dan Moreland comes
aboard as Captain and Executive Director.
Return from Gloucester to New Bedford. Tour
to Boston and New York Harbor. |
| 1984-1985 |
 |
Restoration with the
help of WHALE |
| 1986 |
 |
The Ernestina
begins her fourth career as a
sailing school ship, living
history museum, and cultural
ambassador. Offices move to 30 Union Street in
New Bedford. |
| 1987 |
 |
NTHP Preservation Award and U.S. Coast Guard certificate
as an SSV. History Under Sail Campaign
announced by Gov. Dukakis. |
| 1988 |
 |
Sail back to Brigus,
Newfoundland |
| 1989 |
 |
New Programs: Youth
Under Sail, Minority Maritime Apprenticeship,
and Community Organizations Under Sail. |
| 1990 |
 |
Another voyage to Brigus. Office shuts doors after
critical state audit. Joe Cardozo comes
aboard as Executive Director. National
Historic Landmark Status gained. Offices later
reopen in trailer on New Bedford State Pier. |
| 1991 |
 |
The Perfect Storm
Captains: Doug Nemeth and Gregg Swanzey.
Program Coordinator: Esther Kennedy |
| 1992 |
 |
Ernestina delivered north
from Miami, FL with Norman Gomes aboard as
captain.
Operations are taken
over by the Ernestina Morrissey Historical
Association (EMHA). Pam Weurth and Clem Daley
serve as
Executive Directors. Captain: Dutch Shultis. |
| 1993 |
 |
The ship does not
operate but receives significant hull work at
Kelleys Shipyard in Fairhaven, MA. |
| 1994 |
 |
Gregg Swanzey comes aboard as
Executive Director. New
legislation, major refitting, passenger vessel
certification and
relaunch into second century. Log of a Record
Run first published. Program
Coordinators Tom Goux and Laurie Belisle. |
| 1995 |
 |
First Business and Spending
Plan written, an annual requirement of the
Legislature. Annual audits brought up to date.
Captain: Steve Briggs. Program Coordinator: Tora
Johnson. |
| 1996 |
 |
Establishment of the New
Bedford Whaling National Historic Park, Ernestina
is named. First Massachusetts Environmental
Trust grant for interpretive display and
curriculum guide. SEA Connections
Institute for teachers thanks to a grant from
the Department of Education. Captain: Jeff Stone. Program Coordinators: Tora
Johnson, Caitlin Schwarzman and Aaren Freeman |
| 1997 |
 |
Massachusetts Interactive
Media Council (MIMC) Award for our website,
topmasts go aloft thanks to ISTEA grant,
dedicated operational funds @$125,000 from
State Budget for the first time. Polly Zajac
comes on staff to develop shore-based
programming. Captain: Jeff Stone. Program Coordinators:
Kristin Price and Otto Loggers. |
| 1998 |
 |
Offices moved out of the
trailer on State Pier and into the F.A. Sowle
Building at the corner of Water and Elm
Streets, Southeastern Environmental Education
Alliance (SEEAL) forms. Captains: Jeff Stone and Amanda Madeira. Program Coordinators:
Andrea Parrish and Chris Newlan. |
| 1999 |
 |
Ernestina online from at
sea using a wireless cellular connection.
Internship program established thanks to the
Island Foundation. Captains: Amanda Madeira and Willi Bank.
Program Coordinators: Andrea Parrish and Chris
Newlan. |
| 2000 |
 |
TallShips 2000, OpSail 2000
and Ships to Save the Waters Conference 2000
in Jersey City, NJ. Sail from the Chesapeake
to Nova Scotia. Captains: Amanda Madeira, Willi Bank and Sophie
Morse. Program Coordinators: Crista Mellican
and Inette Rex. |
| 2001 |
 |
Festa da Ernestina! New Bedford Harbor Sea
Chantey Chorus established. Ships to Save the
Waters Conference hosted by Ernestina
staff. Captains: Amanda Madeira, Willi Bank, Sophie
Morse and Doug Nemeth. Program Coordinators: Crista Mellican
and Inette Rex. |
| 2002 |
 |
Ship takes on water in Long
Island Sound calling for extensive keel
refastening. A tightening economy curtails
operations at the close of the year. Captains: Amanda Madeira, Willi Bank and Sophie
Morse. Program Coordinators: Crista Mellican,
Steve Kirk, MaryHelen Gunn and Inette Rex. |
| 2003 |
 |
A successful fund
raising campaign rejuvenates the sailing
season and a full season of education
continues after a winter of significant
shipyard work on the forward frames at the
keel. The entire rig is pulled for inspection.
Captains: Amanda Madeira, Sophie Morse, Willi
Bank, Doug Nemeth. Program Coordinators:
Rhonda Moniz, Kristen Sharpless, Gretchen
Stuppy |
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