Media, Sunken Steamboats of Moosehead Lake

BBC TRAVEL – SEPTEMBER 19, 2022

“Steamboats were once a glamorous means of transport for tourists summering at Moosehead Lake – but when the era faded, ship owners sank the once-beloved vessels.

“A hundred years ago there were dozens of these things cruising around here,” said a man who’d suddenly appeared next to me at the dock as I watched the approaching steamboat. He’d startled me out of my reverie, my gaze caught somewhere between the shimmer that dances across Moosehead Lake and the seaplanes taking off toward Mount Katahdin.” READ THE ARTICLE…

moosehead marine museum receives Grant to Complete Sunken Steamboats Documentary Project

GREENVILLE, Maine – The Moosehead Marine Museum (MMM) received a $20,000 grant from the Davis Family Foundation to complete production of a historical documentary film featuring steamboat wrecks in Moosehead Lake.

“There is little documented about the fate of the other steamboats,” said Liz McKeil, Museum Executive Director. “We know the Katahdin I caught fire while underway and was run intentionally aground near Sandbar Island as a life saving measure, whereas the Twilight sank during overwintering at Steamboat Point. Anecdotal reports indicate that many of the steamboats, such as the Kineo, were burned to the waterline and sunk once they reached the end of their useful lives.” The centerpiece of MMM’s collection is the 1914 steamboat Katahdin, according to McKeil. It is the only remaining steamboat of a fleet of some 50 or more that once plied the waters of the state’s largest lake.

MMM has partnered with Ryan Robbins, the film’s Director and Founder of Moosehead Lake Divers to identify and capture video of the sunken remains of at least three known wrecks in Moosehead Lake. The documentary, titled Sunken Steamboats of Moosehead Lake, will tell the story of steamboat history on Moosehead Lake by combining underwater footage of steamboat remains with historic still images and video oral history interviews. “We’re thrilled to be awarded this grant,” said Robbins. “All of the post-production will take place over the winter, and these funds will be needed to see us to completion.” Earlier grants from Weyerhaeuser, Libra Foundation, Fisher Charitable Foundation, and Bangor Savings Bank Foundation funded production of the oral history and underwater filming phases of the project. This grant will fund post-production efforts including, editing, scoring, and release of the final product. The goal of the project is to research, document, and share information about Moosehead Lake’s steamboating past.

The Moosehead Marine Museum’s mission is to preserve and operate the Katahdin as a “living museum” for the benefit of our community, region, and future generations. For more information please visit www.katahdincruises.com.

The Davis Family Foundation, based in Yarmouth, Maine, is a public charitable foundation established by Phyllis C. Davis and H. Halsey Davis of Falmouth, Maine, to support educational, medical and cultural/arts organizations located primarily in Maine. The Foundation was established following Mr. Davis’ retirement as President and Chairman of Shaw’s Supermarkets, Inc. Their overriding goal for the Foundation was simple and straightforward: “to make grants where they will do the most good and where our gifts make a real difference.” The Foundation has provided more than $58 million in grants since its grantmaking activities began in 1986.

MOOSEHEAD MARINE MUSEUM RECEIVES GRANTS FOR SUNKEN STEAMBOATS DOCUMENTARY PROJECT

GREENVILLE, Maine – The Moosehead Marine Museum (MMM) received two separate $10,000 grants from the Libra Foundation and the Fisher Charitable Foundation to support production of a historical documentary film featuring steamboat wrecks in Moosehead Lake.

The centerpiece of MMM’s collection is the 1914 steamboat Katahdin, according to Liz McKeil, museum executive director. It is the only remaining steamboat of a fleet of some 50 or more that once plied the waters of the state’s largest lake. “There is little documented about the fate of the other steamboats,” said McKeil. “We know the Katahdin I caught fire while underway and was run intentionally aground near Sandbar Island as a life saving measure, whereas the Twilight sank during overwintering at Steamboat Point. Anecdotal reports indicate that many of the steamboats, such as the Kineo, were burned to the waterline and sunk once they reached the end of their useful lives.”

MMM is partnering with Ryan Robbins, the film’s Director and founder of Moosehead Lake Divers to identify and capture video of the sunken remains of at least three known wrecks in Moosehead Lake. The documentary, titled Sunken Steamboats of Moosehead Lake, will tell the story of steamboat history on Moosehead Lake by combining underwater footage of steamboat remains with historic still images and video oral history interviews. An earlier grant from Weyerhaeuser funded production of the oral history phase. The goal of the project is to research, document, and disseminate information about Moosehead Lake’s steamboating past.

Oral history interview production is currently underway and will continue over the summer. “It’s exciting to see the amount of interest from the community,” said Robbins. “The steamboats were the backbone of transportation for over 100 years on Moosehead Lake…and with every interview we learn just a little more about the story.”

The Libra Foundation, based in Portland, Maine, was created by Elizabeth Noyce in 1989 and has made significant contributions to worthy causes throughout the State of Maine. Embracing the sense of proportion and fairness defined by its name, Libra, the Foundation maintains a balance and diversity of giving throughout Maine and across all populations. For more information please visit www.librafoundation.org.

The Fisher Charitable Foundation is a private operating foundation established by Dean L. Fisher, late of Rockport, Maine, which became active in 1997. The Mission Statement of the Foundation states that the Fisher Charitable Foundation provides grants to tax-exempt charitable, §501(c)(3) organizations, primarily in Maine.

Portland press herald – Sunday, february 26, 2017

Featured Sunday Edition Lifestyle section:

Weyerhaeuser Grant Kick-Starts Sunken Steamboats of Moosehead Lake Documentary Project

Oral history interviews to begin with people tied to steamboat history

GREENVILLE, ME, January 10, 2017 – The Moosehead Marine Museum is celebrating the first major grant awarded to kick off production of their historical documentary film: The Sunken Steamboats of Moosehead Lake. Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund awarded $5,000 to the project, which is being produced by the Moosehead Marine Museum in partnership with Ryan Robbins, founder of Moosehead Lake Divers and the film’s Director. The documentary will feature underwater video of steamboat wrecks in the lake, historical still images, and excerpts of oral history interviews.

“The grant gets the project off the ground so we can finally begin capturing the oral history interviews needed for the film. There are a lot of people whose lives were intertwined with Moosehead steamboats. We want to feature their experiences and let their voices tell the history first-hand,” said Ryan Robbins.

While parts of the oral history interviews will serve as the primary film narration, each of the full interviews will be transcribed, catalogued, added to the museum collection, and made available to the public. As indicated by Robbins, “The Sunken Steamboats of Moosehead Lake isn’t just a film about steamboats. It’s an oral history project involving real people sharing their own Maine history.”

“There’s a sense of urgency once you start meeting and talking to people who were personally involved with the steamboats, said Liz McKeil, Executive Director of the Moosehead Marine Museum. “There just aren’t many people left who remember that time. We want to capture this while we still can…and we’re really excited Weyerhaeuser is kicking things off with the first major contribution.”

The project launched a GoFundMe campaign in 2016. Both Robbins and McKeil are actively pursuing other grant sponsors to keep the project moving forward. They plan to conduct a dozen or so oral history interviews and have an updated trailer featuring the oral history part of the project ready in time for the 40^th anniversary of the Moosehead Marine Museum this summer.

Tax-deductible contributions can be made by clicking the button below or by mail to: Moosehead Marine Museum, Attn: Steamboat Documentary, P.O. Box 1151, Greenville, ME 04441-1151.

I WANT TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT TOO!

WFVX Fox 22, ABC 7 – Thursday, January 26, 2017

Submerged History to be Uncovered in Greenville

WWMJ I-95, 95.5FM – Thursday, January 19, 2017

Moosehead Marine Museum To Produce Film About Sunken Steamboats In Moosehead Lake

Bangor Daily News – Thursday, January 19, 2017

http://bangordailynews.com/community/weyerhaeuser-grant-kick-starts-sunken-steamboats-of-moosehead-lake-documentary/

The Piscataquis observer – wednesday, June 22, 2016

Historical Documentary Features Lost Moosehead Lake Steamboats

The Pulse Morning Show, WZON The Pulse AM 620 – Monday, June 6, 2016

207 on WCSH Channel 6 & WLBZ Channel 2 – Friday, May 27, 2016

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/207/the-sunken-steamboats-of-moosehead-lake/218126001

Watch Interview

Weyerhaeuser Grant Kick-Starts Sunken Steamboats of Moosehead Lake Documentary Project

Oral history interviews to begin with people tied to steamboat history

Tax-deductible contributions can be made by clicking the button below or by mail to: Moosehead Marine Museum, Attn: Steamboat Documentary, P.O. Box 1151, Greenville, ME 04441-1151.

I WANT TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT TOO!