Member Monday presentations are exclusive content for PMM members. Not a member? Join here!

Thanks to your generosity, the $3,000 Big Jim matching gift challenge was fully met! We’re so grateful to everyone who helped unlock these matching funds for the Big Jim restoration project.

That $3,000 challenge was an important boost, but it’s just one piece of our larger goal. We’re working toward a $30,000 total, and with the match complete, we’re now about halfway there.



Every additional gift — matched or not — continues to move this project forward and brings us closer to preserving Big Jim for future generations.

Thank you for helping us reach this milestone. With your continued support, we can carry this momentum all the way to the finish line.

By Cipperly Good, the Richard Saltonstall Jr. Curator of Maritime History

Daniel S. Goodell arrived in Searsport in 1855, and in 1859, set up a shipyard at the foot of Navy Street with William McGilvery. When not overseeing the shipyard, he captained  various ships, including the family namesake, the ship MARY GOODELL, from 1854-1859. As soon as his two sons were old enough to go to sea, he sent them to apprentice as—and later become—master mariners in their own right. His eldest son, Daniel Jr., was active from 1875 to 1895. His youngest son, William Heagan Goodell, captained the bark GOODELL from 1882-1883, as well as the Searsport-built ROBERT PORTER, retiring from sea in 1886. Recently, we received a bequest from the estate of William’s son, William H. Goodell, Jr. This large bequest contains ship paintings, shipboard tools, shipping papers and logbooks, and other ephemera from the Goodells’ time at sea.   



Here are a few items of interest that we have uncovered as we sort through the Collection. 

By Kevin Johnson, Photo Archivist

When I started at the museum in 2007 (Yikes!), I was overwhelmed with all the photographic collections that fell under my care. How could one person manage all of this?! Well the short answer is that it couldn’t be done by one person. It would take a small dedicated army of volunteers! Since those early days we have averaged roughly 15 active photo archives volunteers who report to the museum each week, some several times a week. They come from a variety of backgrounds and represent many age groups. Some have volunteered here for more than a decade. As some retire, new ones sign on. They become family, and our lives have become intertwined. At this time of year we reflect on what we are grateful for, and Matt and I are so grateful for all our volunteers! A big thank you to our current crew: Diane, Kevin, Dave B., Maynard, Phil, John, Paul, Margo, Betty, Wendy, Dave R., Louise, Wayne and Norma. Thanks, of course, to those who were generous with their time in years past. If you are one of the photo archives volunteers and you don't see your face in the grid here, we need to set up a short photo shoot with you!

By Jeana Ganskop, Education Director

As the Education Department has been conducting research for upcoming programs and exhibits, we have been able to learn more about locals who went to sea.

Horace G. Peaslee was born to Washington and Jane (Gilchrist) Peaslee in Prospect in 1859. The family moved to Searsport when Horace was still a child. Horace became a sailor and sailed with Captain William M. Carver on the SUSAN GILMORE. He had worked his way to second mate by July, 1884, when the ship wrecked off the coast of New Castle, Australia. The 25-year-old likely evacuated the SUSAN GILMORE by breeches buoy – along with the rest of the crew, the captain’s wife, the captain’s small child, and the pets! Find out more about the wreck plus see a photo in the Sydney Daily Herald.

We often talk about the Searsport sea captains, but Horace G. Peaslee is only one of many other Searsport mariners who sailed in positions other than captain. In 1880, one third of all working males 18 and over was a mariner! Sea captains comprised 14% of the working men, but 19% were recorded in the census as seamen. The chart shows information from this census. It’s fascinating to take some time to do historical research and find more information about these men!

What else is going on in the Education Department during the off season? A lot of planning, preparing, and organizing. Registration is open for kids camps during school breaks and summer vacation. We’re also accepting field trip requests for May and June! Check our calendar or follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on winter workshops and special events.

Looking for something for you kids to do during school vacations? We have options during February and April breaks, plus two weeks in July!

This past month our photo collection was featured in this story on 207. The Big Jim restoration project was featured in several publications. You can find the WFVX story here, The Rising Tide article here, The Ellsworth American article here, and the Penobscot Bay Pilot article here.