Centre Acadien, Université Sainte-Anne

The E. P. Thériault – The E. P. Theriault was a three-masted schooner representative of the type built by the hundreds all along the coast of Nova Scotia during the age of sail. In North America, these vessels were often referred to as “tern” schooners. Many were built in the Acadian village of Belliveau’s Cove, of which the E. P. Theriault was the last. The shipyard was a family concern and this final tern was named after one of the owners, Élizé Philip Theriault.

Launched in late November 1919, she had a long and interesting life that is well documented in John Parker’s book Sails of the Maritimes. The schooner was used in many different trades but deployed mostly to haul lumber.

During the late 1920s, she was sold to interests on the south shore of Nova Scotia; in this photo, she is taking on a deckload of boards, probably at a location along the La Have River.

There are two remarkable facts concerning this vessel. The first is that she was under the command of a female captain, Captain Ivy Wamboldt, for a number of years. The second is that she was sailed a distance of about 1500 miles without a rudder – having lost the rudder during a violent storm, Captain George Corkum managed to steer the ship from Turks Island to Lunenburg by clever manipulation of the sails.

In 1942, the E. P. Theriault was abandoned at sea after being shelled by a German submarine. She refused to sink and eventually drifted ashore on a Cuban beach. Islanders bought and repaired the old schooner and sailed her for a few more years under the name Ofelia Ganedo.

Topic: Commercial Enterprises and other livelihoods

Date: [ca. 193-]

Reference: Centre acadien Collection Centre Acadien Photo 1

For more information, visit the Centre Acadien website.