Strawbery Banke Breaks Ground on Boatshop

PORTSMOUTH, NH - The Boatshop at Strawbery Banke, a partnership between Piper Boatworks and Strawbery Banke Museum, broke ground this week. At the same time, the partners announced a fundraising challenge match. An anonymous donor has recently pledged $5,000 in matching funds as a challenge to other contributors who are inspired to support this new effort.

Monitored by Alix Martin, the museum’s staff archaeologist, The Boatshop’s director, Nate Piper, worked with volunteers to prepare the ground for the future boatshop. Green Velvet Landscaping donated the site excavation work and Ricci Lumber donated the materials and equipment for the footings.

“We are encouraged by the response The Boatshop at Strawbery Banke is getting from the community so far,” said Nate Piper, director of The Boatshop at Strawbery Banke. “With funds and materials provided by early donors, we were able to get the foundation in place before the snow and freeze sets in.”

The first phase of The Boatshop at Strawbery Banke, which will provide expanded maritime history-related exhibits, demonstrations and programs, is focused on the expansion of an existing building to accommodate a new workshop and demonstration space.

The Boatshop is currently halfway to its fundraising goal of $20,000. Construction of the building will continue when the additional $10,000 from the challenge grant and the matching funds have been raised. Businesses and individuals interested in investing in The Boatshop’s new facility on the grounds of Strawbery Banke Museum can contact the museum’s development office at 603-422-7551.

“Strawbery Bank is delighted to be bringing traditional boat building and the history and practice of maritime crafts back to the museum’s regular interpretation of the site,” said Lawrence J. Yerdon, president and CEO of Strawbery Banke. “We look forward to the launch of on-site demonstrations at The Boatshop at Strawbery Banke during the 2016 season.”

The Boatshop at Strawbery Banke recently announced that it is partnering with Star Island Corporation and Portsmouth High School to restore Star Island’s six wooden row boats. The project work will be completed as part of the PHS construction trades program’s winter curriculum and will be overseen by Piper. The boats will be returned to the Isles of Shoals and relaunched in Spring 2016.

The second phase of The Boatshop at Strawbery Banke will focus on developing a series of programs on modern and historical maritime topics and skills, and the creation of an onsite exhibit. Volunteers interested in assisting with maritime-related exhibit set-up, on-site demonstrations and construction of the new Boatshop building can contact Nate Piper at boatshop@strawberybanke.org.

Caption: Photo attached. The Boatshop at Strawbery Banke director Nate Piper (third from right) and volunteers complete site work for future boatshop. Credit: Caroline Piper