HERBERT L.RAWDING

HERBERT L.RAWDING

The largest schooner ever launched into the harbor at Stockton Springs, Maine was the 4 masted HERBERT L RAWDING which was built at the Atlantic Coast Company Yard for Peter M. Crowell and Lewis K. Thurlow Company. Launched on September 25, 1919 the RAWDING sailed for 28 years. Mentioned in several publications, a complete book " The Story of the Schooner HERBERT L RAWDING " was written by Captain Francis E. Bowker while a research assistant at the Seaport Museum at Mystic, Conn. Capt Bowker actually started his career under sail, starting at the age of 16. The HERBERT L RAWDING was named for Capt. Herbert L. Rawding of Clementport, Nova Scotia who supervised the construction of the RAWDING, the fourth to be built at this yard under the eye of Master Builder James Parker. The original cost for building her was $190,000. Sold in 1945 for $18,000, RAWDING finished out her career as a motor or "bald head" schooner until she was lost in June 1947, 500 miles off Cape St. Vincent on her way out of Gibralter with a load of salt.