1970Joseph Garland found Howard Blackburn’s sloop the Great Republic on Long Island in New York and brought it home to Gloucester.People and Communities, Economy and Industry, Maritime & Fishing Industry, Notable People

Joseph Garland and a few friends recovered the wreck of the vessel from its last home on Long Island and gave her to the Gloucester Historical Commission. The GHC raised money to support the restoration of the project, which was completed by Laurence Dahlmer.

“He designed a permanent cradle of steel supplied at cost by Linsky Brothers. This was welded in place at Montgomery’s (Herb has been storing the Great Republic for a token charge), and boat and cradle were trailered by Jim and Nancy Thompson of the Wheeler’s Point Boat Yard (who also donated their services in the two previous moves) to Dahlmer’s shop at 235 East Main Street, overlooking Smith Cove where Archibald Fenton built and launched Great Republic in the spring of 1900.” (Sea History Magazine, p. 7)