The E.L. Rowe & Sons sailmakers and ship chandlers company was founded in 1865 by Edward L. Rowe and were a well-known and well-connected practice until their sudden closure in 1923-1924. Based for the majority of their years in 33 Wharf Street, Gloucester, they provided sails (along with other boating equipment) for schooners and other vessels in the Cape Ann area. In 1906, they were incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts to become E.L Rowe & Sons, Inc., capitalised for $150,000 - equivalent to more than $5,000,000 today.

According to the Gloucester Times, they were "the largest vessel outfitters on the [East] coast" and "one of the largest concerns of its kind in the country", and even fitted the largest schooner in the world at the time of writing, the seven master Schooner Thomas W. Lawson. Despite this, they were a family-run business, with father E.L. Rowe as president, and sons Arthur E. Rowe and Alan S. Rowe as treasurer and secretary respectively.

This exhibit shows sail plans that date back to as early as 1893 and up until the time of their closure, all originally designed by the company E.L. Rowe & Sons for various vessels.

Ralph Brown

The Schooner Ralph Brown's home port was Gloucester, and was manned by Captain Alvaro Quadros. Unfortunately, in 1926, the schooner was wrecked at Brier Neck, and three members of the crew perished.

This sail plan from the E.L. Rowe & Son company depicts the outline and the measurements of the sails for the Ralph Brown. The plan is undated.

Grampus

The Yacht Grampus, pictured with another unknown vessel, was built in Gloucester, with E.L. Rowe & Sons company completing their sail plans for the yacht in 1908. Grampus was the "first commission vessel of the United States government" according to the Gloucester Times, and was also rigged in Gloucester by marine expert J.A. Purdy.

This photograph was taken by Eben Parsons, in 1911. 

Arthur D. Story

The Schooner Arthur D. Story was built in 1885. Created by Hugh Parkhurst & Co. in Essex and named after one of its ship-builders, it had two captains during its time on the ocean: Capt. John Farrell and Capt. William L. Nickerson. Unfortunately, an explosion on Memorial Day in 1928 whilst in port killed Farrell, but no one else was harmed. 

This sail plan from the E.L. Rowe & Son company depicts the outline and the measurements of the sails for the Arthur D. Story. The plan is dated as late as 1909.

Arthur D. Story

This photograph of the Schooner Arthur D. Story shows a comparison to the previous sail plans. This photograph was taken by Adolph Kupsinel in 1929.

Albert Baldwin

The Sloop Albert Baldwin was built in Essex in 1890, in the James and Tarr Shipyard. Manned by a man named Captain Poland (whose first name was not included in the Ship Register), it would transport engine beds from the Rockport Granite Co. to the Calumet & Hecla Mine Co. in the 1900s. Albert Baldwin was the last stone sloop ever built.

This sail plan from the E.L. Rowe & Son company depicts the outline and the measurements of the sails for the Albert Baldwin. The plan is undated.

Frances Whalen / William A. Graber

The Schooner William A. Graber, formerly Frances Whalen, was built in Essex and used as a whaling schooner, although this photo depicts the vessel in Boston. There is no date on the E.L. Rowe & Sons sail plans for this schooner as to when it was built.

This photograph was taken by Gordon Thomas, in 1910.

Victor Ethan

The Schooner Victor Ethan was built in Boston in 1908. Commanded by Captain Herbert Nickerson, the Gloucester Times reported it as the first U.S. fishing vessel to successfully sail through the Panama Canal in 1912-1913. However, the schooner's time on the ocean was short-lived, and it sunk in a collision with the S.S. Harry Luckenbach off Massachusetts in 1916.

This sail plan from the E.L. Rowe & Son company depicts the outline and the measurements of the sails for the Victor Ethan. The plan is dated as late as 1916.

Imperator

The Schooner Imperator was built by Gorton Pew Fisheries Co. and manned by Captain Freeman Decker. This photograph was taken during its involvement of filming the 1937 movie Captains Courageous, with actor Spencer Tracy and others. The film was shot in Gloucester, Massachusetts, as well as in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, Canada. There is no date on the E.L. Rowe & Sons sail plans for this schooner as to when it was built, although there are other photos of the Imperator at Harbor Cove as early as 1911.

This photograph was taken by Doane Nickerson Jr, in 1937.

A. Piatt Andrew

The Schooner A. Piatt Andrew was built by John Chisholm in Gloucester, who would also captain the ship. It was named after a Gloucester citizen who became Secretary of the Treasury at the same time of Piatt Andrew's maiden voyage in 1912. Later, in 1915, it hauled in a record breaking fish stock worth $53,395. The schooner was managed by many different captains as well as Chisholm, including Capt. John Silveira and Capt. Wallace Bruce.

This sail plan from the E.L. Rowe & Son company depicts the outline and the measurements of the sails for the A. Piatt Andrew. The plan is dated as late as 1917.

Mary T. Fallon

The Schooner Mary T. Fallon was built in Duxbury, Massachusetts in 1901. Captained by John J. Carroll, it successfully aided a rescue mission of the Schooner Matthew S. Greer in 1911, although it was primarily a fishing vessel.

This sail plan from the E.L. Rowe & Son company depicts the outline and the measurements of the sails for the Mary T. Fallon. The plan is undated.

Grace Otis

The Schooner Grace Otis was made in Newburyport in 1895, and captained by Capt. William Newhall. Here, it is pictured with other unnamed vessels at Gloucester Harbour in 1917. The Grace Otis was designed, like many of the E.L. Rowe & Sons vessels, by Gorton Pew Fisheries Co., but there is no date on the sail plans as to when the sails were made.

This photograph was taken by the Boston Herald Traveler, in 1917.

Wayfarer

The Pilot Wayfarer was originally built as a yacht for a Professor named John Jays Hammond, who spent summers in Cape Ann at Fresh Water Cove. However, in 1912, it was sold as a pilot boat to Capt. T.A. Johnson, and was moved to Mobile, Alabama. 

This sail plan from the E.L. Rowe & Son company depicts the outline and the measurements of the sails for the Wayfarer. The plan is undated.

Clara G. Silva

The Schooner Clara G. Silva was built in 1906, in Essex, and commanded by Captain J.P. Madruga. The E.L. Rowe & Sons sail plans were also made as late as 1906. The photograph of Clara shows the schooner dropping dory at Gloucester Harbour.

This photograph was taken by Chester N. Walen, in 1906.

Senator Saulsbury

The Schooner Senator Saulsbury was built in 1897 in Essex, by Hugh Parkhurst & Co. The Saulsbury was a member of the Georges handline fleet. Its Captain was Thomas Allen.

This sail plan from the E.L. Rowe & Son company depicts the outline and the measurements of the sails for the Senator Saulsbury. The plan is dated as late as 1908.

Metamora

The Schooner Metamora was built in Gloucester in 1902. Manned by Capt. John Robbins, its biggest problem came in 1904, when it collided with Schooner John T. Williams and consequently damaged, although would continue to sail for years after.

This sail plan from the E.L. Rowe & Son company depicts the outline and the measurements of the sails for the Metamora. The plan is dated as late as 1911.

Metamora

This photograph of the Schooner Metamora shows a comparison to the previous sail plans. This photograph was taken by Gordon Thomas in 1902.

Gertrude DeCosta

The Schooner Gertrude DeCosta was built in 1912, in Rockport. Captained by John Shea, the schooner sailed as part of the Gloucester mackerel fleet, and in this photograph was in in New Bedford, Massachusetts. There is no date on the E.L. Rowe & Sons sail plans for this schooner as to when it was built.

This photograph was taken by C.F. Sayle, in 1920.

Catherine Burke

The Schooner Catherine Burke was built by Gorton Pew Fisheries Co. in Essex in 1904, where it was manned by Capt. Jerome MacDonald. Unfortunately, the vessel sunk in 1941 after the crew abandoned ship.

This sail plan from the E.L. Rowe & Son company depicts the outline and the measurements of the sails for the Catherine Burke. The plan is dated as late as 1911. 

Commonwealth

The Schooner Commonwealth was built in Boston in 1913, with Captain Frank Watts in charge. The photograph shows the bow of the Commonwealth, which contextually was up for stem repair during the time the photo was taken. The E.L. Rowe & Sons sail plans show the sails being designed as late as 1918. 

This photograph was taken by Herman W. Spooner, but is undated.

Teaser

The Schooner Teaser (sometimes referred to or written as Teazer) was built in Essex in 1905 by the Gorton Pew Fisheries Co. The Captain, D.B. Smith, used this vessel for fishing locally until his son R. Russell Smith sold it to a party in Cleveland, Ohio in April 1907.

This sail plan from the E.L. Rowe & Son company depicts the outline and the measurements of the sails for the Teaser. The plan is undated.

A.M. Nicholson

The Yacht A.M. Nicholson was built in Essex in 1900. Its Captain, Solomon Jacobs, bought it in 1904, and from then on it was owned by the District of Gloucester.

This sail plan from the E.L. Rowe & Son company depicts the outline and the measurements of the sails for the A.M. Nicholson. The plan is undated.

Mary F. Ruth

The Steamer Mary F. Ruth (the front boat in the photograph) was built in Essex in 1912 and manned by Capt. Jerry Cook. There is no date on the E.L. Rowe & Sons sail plans for this steamer as to when it was built.

Valerie

The Schooner Valerie (behind the Mary F. Ruth in the photograph) was built in Gloucester in 1910, and was commanded by Capt. Frank Saunders. The E.L. Rowe & Sons sail plans date the designs of the Valerie at 1911.

This photograph was taken by an unknown photographer, in 1920.

Boston Alert

The Schooner Boston Alert was named because of it's home port, Boston (this differentiates from the Essex Schooner, also named Alert). It was manned by Capt. Almon D. Mallock, but unfortunately was sunk.

This sail plan from the E.L. Rowe & Son company depicts the outline and the measurements of the sails for the Boston Alert. The plan is undated.

Natalie J. Nelson

The Schooner Natalie J. Nelson was built in Essex, and sail plans from the E.L. Rowe & Sons company date the plans as late as 1903. It had primarily two captains, Capt. John Vautier and Capt. George W. Nelson. The photograph shows the schooner next to the New England Fish Co. Inc building in Cape Ann.

This photograph was taken by Ernest L. Blatchford, in 1904.

Eclipse

The Yacht Eclipse was built in Gloucester in 1884. It was rumoured to have been sailed by Arthur E. Rowe, son of E.L Rowe himself and treasury of the E.L. Rowe & Sons company. Arthur lived in Gloucester until 1917, before moving to Wilmington, Delaware, where he lived until aged 60. The Gloucester Times wrote at his death that "his ready wit and pleasing personality made him ... very popular".

This sail plan from the E.L. Rowe & Son company depicts the outline and the measurements of the sails for the Eclipse. The plan is undated.

Marechal Foch

The Schooner Marechal Foch (also referred to or written as Marshal Foch) was built in Gloucester at the end of World War One, and took it's maiden voyage in May 1919. It was named after the French General Ferdinand Foch, who served in the Great War, and given to Capt. Jeff Thomas to command. It was a prominent fishing vessel until 1952, where it sunk in October off the south of Sable Island whilst the crew abandoned ship.

This sail plan from the E.L. Rowe & Son company depicts the outline and the measurements of the sails for the Marechal Foch. The plan is undated.