From collection Everett "Red" Boutilier Collection
Sample-Shevenel yard
This is the giant cradle on the new marine railway at the Frank L. Sample shipyard at Boothbay Harbor, Maine, on the day of its dedication, September 29, 1979. The 500 ton railway was believed to be the largest east of New Bedford, MA. Its cradle was 120 ft. long and 36 ft. wide. Its track was 475 ft. long. There had been a marine railway on this site since 1839. The yard had been sold in late 1977 by Frank L. Sample, Jr., to "Bud" Shevenell just weeks before Sample's death. Sample had run the business since 1938.