Harold A. Burnham Builds a Ship

September 23, 2020 / Good to Know, History/Maritime, Local Characters

Harold A. Burnham grew up among the shipyards of Essex, a tiny Cape Ann town with a rich community tradition of shipbuilding that dates back to the 1630’s. Over the centuries, the shipbuilders of Essex launched more than 4,000 ships, built largely for the fishing fleet out of Gloucester. The shipbuilding industry of Essex declined sharply after WWII, and although a few talented shipwrights continued building wooden commercial vessels, the building of heavily constructed wooden vessels (employing sawn frames and trunnel or tree-nail fastenings) at the river’s edge became a thing of the past.

As a child, Burnham became enamored with the craftsmanship of wooden ships as he would ride his bike through the Story Shipyard every morning to have breakfast with his grandmother Ardelle. Stopping in the Story Yard, now home to the Essex Shipbuilding Museum, Burnham would watch as Brad Story and his gang constructed wooden boats. Burnham’s father, Charles, also built wooden boats and taught the technique to his children. Both of Burnham’s parents were dedicated to the preservation of the town’s history and were among the founding members who established the Essex Shipbuilding Museum.

Mass Cultural Council – Short film featuring master wooden boat builder Harold A. Burnham.

As a child, Burnham became enamored with the craftsmanship of wooden ships as he would ride his bike through the Story Shipyard every morning to have breakfast with his grandmother Ardelle. Stopping in the Story Yard, now home to the Essex Shipbuilding Museum, Burnham would watch as Brad Story and his gang constructed wooden boats. Burnham’s father, Charles, also built wooden boats and taught the technique to his children. Both of Burnham’s parents were dedicated to the preservation of the town’s history and were among the founding members who established the Essex Shipbuilding Museum.

After graduating from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy,  Burnham went to sea as a mate on tankers for some years.  But that gig didn’t last long. The call of shipbuilding tugged hard so he decided to join his siblings and set up shop in the family yard.  And so a charter business began with his maiden voyage of the Friendship sloop Chrissy in Gloucester Harbor.

In 1996, Tom Ellis approached Burnham with the idea of building a 65’ traditional Gloucester fishing schooner.  One year later, The Schooner Thomas E. Lannon was launched and quickly became an iconic commercial charter business in Gloucester. After the building of the Lannon, Burnham continued his craft building the Chebacco boat  Lewis H. Story, flagship of the Essex Shipbuilding Museum, the Schooner Fame of Salem launched in 2002, and the Schooner Isabella, a private yacht, launched in 2006.

In 2010, with no new customers in sight, Burnham was inspired to build a passenger schooner of his own. Working with a crew of community volunteers, friends and family, the Schooner Ardelle, named for his grandmother, launched from the Burnham Shipyard on July 9,  2011.

Harriet Webster, the former Executive Director of Maritime Gloucester described the building of the Ardelle and its impact to the community… “When Harold undertakes a project, it inevitably becomes a community venture. He engrosses both skilled craftsmen and enthusiastic community amateurs, demonstrating and teaching as he goes. In the process, not only does he build fine boats, but he nourishes a community of individuals, develops an appreciation of the craft and helps to understand this traditional art form – his determination to keep this tradition alive is admirable.”

Berthed at Maritime Gloucester, the Schooner Ardelle sails as the museum’s jewel and educational vessel. Captained by Burnham and his son, Alden, the Ardelle offers daily public sails and private charters throughout the season. The building of the Ardelle is chronicled in the book, The Shipwiright and the Schooner, by Harold Burnham featuring photographer, Dan Tobyne.

Although the forest of masts lining the docks and piers of Gloucester’s working waterfront have thinned, we are fortunate to have a select few traditional fishing schooners sailing in and around the harbor today.  Some include the Schooner Ardelle, the Schooner Thomas E. Lannon and the Schooner Adventure.