Richardson and Son Boat Building

Richardson and Son Boat Building was a historic shipbuilding company located on Deer Island, New Brunswick that spanned 4-5 generations of the Richardson family and was "the best known boat building firm in the Maritime Provinces for many decades".[1][2][3][4]

Formed in the 1850s by Thomas Richardson, the company built pinkies and other fishing boats, as well as yachts and pleasurecraft.[1] It passed into the ownership of Thomas' son, George Everett Richardson, who oversaw the construction of more than a thousand ships.[1] By 1875 it was noted Richardson & Son kept 5-6 steady jobs in their shipbuilding, and were noted for their 15' "net boats".[5]

By 1908, it was remarked that in addition to building yachts, several tenders belonging to "famous yachts" had been built by Richardson and Son.[6] By 1931, they were noted to have built a portion of Connors Brothers Limited's fishing fleet.[7]

Falling under the leadership of George E. Richardson for more than forty years with a focus on the fishing fleet for Deer Island,[8] in 1961 they built the yacht Ardesaand in 1962 the Lady K II, both of which continued in service through 1980.[9]

In 1999, the former shipbuilding site was declared a provincial historic site, and is the only known surviving shipbuilding site from the 19th century.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Department of Wellness, Culture and Sport, Heritage Branch - Site File #87, quoted at https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=8685
  2. ^ https://www1.gnb.ca/0007/culture/heritage/desighist-e.asp?pageNumber=17
  3. ^ https://archiveatlantic.wordpress.com/2023/08/18/looking-back-the-viking-at-richardson-boat-shop-deer-island-nb/
  4. ^ SPICER, Stanley, “Heber Richardson, The Master Builder of Deer Island, New Brunswick”, Atlantic Advocate, vol. 50 (May 1960), pp. 66 [69]
  5. ^ s:Page:St Andrews Standard Nov 3 1875.pdf/1
  6. ^ s:The Smiling Isle of Passamaquoddy
  7. ^ "Motorship and Diesel Boating". 1931.
  8. ^ "Canada Lumberman and Woodworker". 1930.
  9. ^ "Lloyd's Register of Yachts 1980". January 1980.