Credit: DRBC.
A piece of maritime history has been on the the Delaware River this week in Lower Bucks County, as the Schooner AJ Meerwald, New Jersey’s official tall ship, has sailed to and docked in Bristol Borough.
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The AJ Meerwald arrived at the local docks on Wednesday and is offering its last public sailing Friday afternoon.
The AJ Meerwald is a restored oyster dredging schooner. The ship has visited the borough a number of times in the past.
Launched in 1928, the schooner was built by Charles H Stowman and Sons in Dorchester, New Jersey. It was one of the hundreds constructed along South Jersey’s bayshore region before the shipbuilding industry succumbed to the Great Depression.
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The historic vessel, which now serves as a traveling classroom and a means to enjoy the way, is managed by the nonprofit Bayshore Center at Bivalve.
The ship’s presence on the river offers a glimpse into the rich maritime traditions of the area, according to the Bayshore Center.
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On November 7, 1995, the Meerwald was recognized for its historical significance with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
The schooner boasts a two-masted gaff rig and measures 85 feet on deck and 115 feet overall, with a beam of 22 feet and a draft of 6 feet. Powered by sails and an auxiliary engine, it can accommodate up to 41 passengers.
The AJ Meerwald’s design features oak planks laid over oak frames.
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As it sails away from Bristol Borough after Friday, the AJ Meerwald continues its mission this summer by visiting the below spots:
- May 11th-14th: South Riverwalk Park in Trenton, NJ
- May 17th-19th: Maritime Day at City Docks in Lewes, DE
- May 20th – June 3rd: Bivalve, NJ (home port)
- June 7th-June 9th: Harborfest in Norfolk, VA *Tickets sold by Harborfest.
Summer
- June 15th- 23rd: Bivalve, NJ (home port)
- June 26th – July 6th: Cape May Ferry Terminal in Cape May, NJ
- July 11th – 14th: Alpine, NJ in collaboration with Tenafly Nature Center *Tickets sold by Tenafly Nature Center.
- July 17th-21st: Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, hosted by AHYC and AHHC
- July 22nd-28th: Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ
- August 2nd – September 12th: Cape May Ferry Terminal in Cape May, NJ
- September 13th – 22nd: Bivalve, NJ (home port)
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Fall
- September 26th-29th Artisans Faire/ The Bait Box in Greenwich,
- October 12th-26th: Bivalve, NJ (home port)
- November 1st-3rd: Sultana Downrigging Festival in Chestertown, MD *Tickets sold by Sultana
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