Heyday of sailing vessels chronicled in Sea Grant/Cooperative Extension lecture

NARRAGANSETT -- August 11, 2000 -- Sea stories from the heyday of maritime commerce tell of the drama and the daily drudgery of moving goods up and down the coast. Sailing vessels were the workhorses of this activity, and many of these vessels were built in mills along the Pawcatuck River.

The vessels, the crews that sailed them, and the industry that built them are the subjects of a historical slide-lecture to be presented by local historian Dwight C. Brown, Jr. on Wednesday, August 23. The presentation runs from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Coastal Institute auditorium at the University of Rhode Island's Bay Campus, South Ferry Road, Narragansett.

"The Pawcatuck River Navy" chronicles the glory days of commercial sailing with accounts of whaling expeditions, freighting, and passenger transport in the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries. Brown will share pictures, news articles, and other memorabilia he has gathered through years of research and collecting.

This is the third in the summer community lecture series sponsored by Rhode Island Sea Grant and the URI Cooperative Extension/ Food Science and Nutrition program. Presenting Narragansett Bay from unusual vantage points, these monthly lectures may take you to the backyard grill or to an underwater wreck to offer a little of the taste, the history, and the adventure of Narragansett Bay. Upcoming topics include an underwater archaeology tour of the bay.

All lectures are free, but seating is limited, so reservations are required. For reservations or more information, please call the Sea Grant Communications Office at (401) 874-6842.

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Contact: Tony Corey, (401) 874-6844

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