Maine Memory Network

Sailmaker's seaming palm, ca. 1901

Courtesy of Gambell and Hunter Sailmakers, an individual partner Date: circa 1901 Location: Camden Media: Leather

Bench hook used in sailmaking, ca. 1900

Courtesy of Gambell and Hunter Sailmakers, an individual partner Date: circa 1900 Location: Camden Media: Iron, dacron

131-137 Commercial Street, Portland, 1924

Owner in 1924: Proprietors of Portland Pier Use: Office

121-125 Commercial Street, Portland, 1924

Owner in 1924: John J Devine Use: Store & Storage

A Tale of Two Sailmakers

Camden has been home to generations of fishermen, shipbuilders, sailmakers, and others who make their living through the sea. The lives of two Camden sailmakers, who were born nearly a century apart, became entwined at a small house on Limerock Street.

Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - Edward O'Brien moves to Thomaston - 1850s

"… complemented the business by establishing a sailmaking business in the Carr O’Brien Block, a building built by O’Brien in 1852 at the corner of…"

Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - Shipbuilding During and after the Civil War - 1861 to 1900

"… of the war, Dunn & Elliot (D&E), established a sailmaking business, making sails for the major shipbuilding firm of Chapman and Flint on the…"