Who We Are
Friends of NOBSKA
After NOBSKA made her last voyage on September 18, 1973 she was laid up at Vineyard Haven and Nantucket. It looked like NOBSKA would never see service again but would end, like so many of her sisters, on the scrapheap. However, in May of the following year, thanks to the efforts of Joseph Morin, a Nantucket terminal employee, the steamer was listed on the National Register of Historic places. Then, in the summer of 1975 the Friends of NOBSKA organized to save the vessel. This volunteer group accepted that in order to preserve her, NOBSKA needed a new role in which to make a living. Continuing her life as a floating restaurant seemed preferable to ending it as scrap. Thus during the time that NOBSKA functioned as a restaurant in Baltimore, her Friends watched over her and kept the steam plant in operating condition. Unfortunately the restaurant was not a success.
New England Steamship Foundation
After many years of increasing neglect,
the Friends finally acquired NOBSKA in 1988.
They returned the steamer to New England where
she tied up at Fall River and New Bedford.
In those berths volunteers kept her bilges pumped
and did whatever they could to halt further detoriation.
To enhance the Friends' efforts their organization reformed more formally as
the New England Steamship Foundation (NESF),
a charitable, scientific and educational organization as defined
under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,
incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts.
An elected Board of Trustees
implements the Foundation's many objectives, e.g.:
- Programs for the public,
- Exhibits on all aspects of steamships,
- Publications relating to coastal transportation history,
- Support for research, and
- Conservation of materials from and about coastal shipping.
In April of 1997, after enabling the historic building's restoration, NESF moved into its current offices on the second floor of the Sundial Building in New Bedford. And so, with "New England Steamship" on the facade of a building, that name has truly returned to New Bedford and is keeping a grand piece of New England's heritage alive.
Public Funds
Despite considerable adversity our volunteers have managed to keep NOBSKA from going under for over twenty years.
In the nick of time a significant grant rewarded our perseverance. In September, 1995, NESF received a $3 million state and federal grant; its terms provided $1 million a year over three years to attend to the serious condition of NOBSKA's hull.
In 1999 NESF also formed a partnership with "Yankee Magazine" to raise additional funds for the restoration.
Members
At first the Friends were but a handful. Over the years with NESF's ongoing success membership has grown to a crew of hundreds, including dozens of active volunteers.
A printed newsletter, "NOBSKA News" keeps members informed.
Trustees
At their meeting in August of 1996
at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford,
our Board of
Trustees
appointed Claude Hodges Chairman,
replacing Founder and Chairman Bob Cleasby, who will head a new
"Founders Council".
To fill the vacancy the Board elected Art Flathers as a trustee.
Art is a retired senior executive from General Electric Aerospace,
he has been active in developing our education programs.
In the Fall of 1998 Mr. George Berkowitz was elected to the Board of Trustees.
In the Summer of 1999 NESF elected two new trustees: Mr. Tom Rankin and Mr. George Block.
The Foundation's Treasurer, Mr. Robert A. Iadicicco, joined the Board in the Fall of 1999.
In February of 2001, again in the Whaling Museum, Foundation Secretary Barry Eager introduced: Robert Astill, a financial expert, John Boardman, an active friend of "Nobska", Thomas Carroll, a logistics manager, David Whitney, and Robert Young, as new trustees.
During the Annual Meeting in February, 2003, as usual at New Bedford, the members unanimously elected Messrs. Barry Eager, Bob Iadicicco, Richard Volkin, David Wolfendon, and Peter Yoars to fill five vacancies in the Board of Trustees. Mr. Art Flathers remained as President.