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MISSION The mission of the Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum (EHSSM) is to preserve the history of Essex, Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on the town's shipbuilding industry and the role it played in the development of the American fishing schooner. In support of its mission, the EHSSM collects, preserves and interprets Essex related material, develops and conducts educational programs and encourages scholarly research.
Background For many years, the society encourages its members to conduct research into all aspects of life in early Essex and to present their findings to the membership. The result is a body of historical papers for which contemporary researchers into early Essex life are deeply indebted. 1950s. Town meeting grants custody of the town's hearse house and two rare horse-drawn hearses to the society. 1976. The Society establishes the Essex Shipbuilding Museum as part of the town's observation of the American Revolutionary Bicentennial. Funding is provided by the society, the town of Essex, the Massachusetts Bicentennial Commission and the American Revolutionary Bicentennial Commission. 1990. The museum acquires the EVELINA M. GOULART–– one of only seven historic Essex-built schooners that survive. 1993. The society purchases the historic site where the Story family operated its shipyards from 1813 to the end of WWII. 1998. The EHSSM commissions the construction of a Chebacco Boat, the LEWIS H. STORY to serve as the museum's flagship.
Board
of Directors
Staff
Catherine Ageloff, Operations Manager Active volunteers assist the staff with educational programming, research, collections care, interpretation, exhibit design and development and maintenance of buildings and the shipyard. The Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum is a tax-exempt, non-profit, Massachusetts corporation. |