Cumberland County Library 800 E. Commerce St., Bridgeton, NJ 08302
Submitted by Jean C. Edwards 856-453-2210 Ext. 110
A.J. Meerwald- the Delaware Bay Oyster Schooner Sail
Sail on New Jersey’s official tall ship, the A.J. Meerwald, and become part of the crew hoisting sails, dredging for oysters or relax and enjoy the river breeze and look for wildlife in the marsh. Cumberland County Library is hosting a sail on September 29 from 1:30 to 4 leaving from Greenwich.
Meet at the Cumberland County Library at 12:30 p.m. Bring your camera, lunch or a snack for the sail. The cost for adults is $17, seniors, $15 and children, $7. Registration is required and payment is due at the time of registration. The deadline for registration is September 22.
The A.J. Meerwald was launched in 1928, one of hundreds of schooners built along South Jersey’ Delaware Bayshore before the Great Depression. The ship was constructed with oak planks laid on an oak frame in the tradition of the Dorchester built vessels.
In 1942 the ship was turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard and outfitted as a fireboat. Most of the sailing rigs were removed at the time. After the war, the ship was returned to the oyster industry which later crashed in 1957 due to the parasite Msx.
She was donated to the Schooner Project in 1989 and was designated N.J.’s official tall ship by Governor Whitman in 1998.
Funding has been made possible by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Cumberland County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Cumberland County Cultural and Heritage Commission.
Call the Cumberland County Library at 856-453-2210 ext. 101 for further information.