A new museum in Jonesport may soon open its doors. Ronnie Peabody and his wife Mary have been assembling and cataloging a large collection of sardine canning memorabilia. Peabody hopes to “preserve what is left of sardine history and preserve the memories that remain from a bygone time.”
Herring (sardine) canneries were once a prolific and strong influence along Maine’s coast. They have now all but vanished. Only two remain in operation today, one in Bath and one in Prospect Harbor. In the early 1900s, over 75 canneries were packing fish 24 hours a day along the Maine coast.
There is little left of the canneries that once dotted the waterfront. Many burned and many more were demolished. The Peabodys are working to see that canneries, although vanishing, are not forgotten.
Ronnie Peabody recalled growing up in Beals with three canneries a short distance away in neighboring Jonesport. “Their whistles all had different tones,” he said. “They announced shift changes and the arrival of fish, they were like the local news.”
As a boy, Peabody lobstered and seined for herring with his father, selling fish to the canneries from time to time. As soon as he was old enough to work he began in the canneries, “It was a grisly damp place to work; it was loud, there was a lot of steam flying everywhere, and I hate to say it, but it was smelly.”
The Peabodys’ sardine history museum’s collection already includes hundreds of herring tins, many carts and racks used to cook the fish, as well as a diverse selection of herring-related artifacts including hairnets, pay bills, letterhead, photographs, company pamphlets and personal stories. The museum is actively seeking more artifacts. Items are accepted either on loan or as a donation. Some of the items they hope to acquire include scissors, hairnets with logos, labels, can covers and pay slips. One item of particular interest the museum would like to acquire is a factory whistle.
The Peabodys are currently working to catalog the museum’s collection. With the help of the Island Institute, they have applied to the Maine Arts and Humanities Commission for a small grant that will aid them in organizing the museum. The next step, upon cataloging the collection, will be to develop displays. Site preparation has begun for a building that will house the exhibits; it is hoped that the building will be completed within the year. The Peabodys are very grateful to all those who have made donations and assisted in the development of the museum.
Ronnie and Mary Peabody can be contacted via e-mail at RonnieP@maineline.net or by mail at RR2 Box 1670, Jonesport, ME. 04649. Their phone number is (207) 497-2961.