Name/Title
Gallinipper launchEntry/Object ID
2022.29.02Description
Five photos, circa 1950s, taken by Frank Lovejoy of Scouts launching the restored "Gallinipper" sailboats. This is not the same "Gallinipper" as the Francis Iron lifeboat. Also spelled Galinipper.
According to Frank Lovejoy, the pictured men include Charlie Gilman, scout master; Stan Showers, in the white bucks; Guy Francis, whose parents owned the Francis Food Store; Frank Fiala at the bow of the boat and Don Kuehne in his runabout.Photograph Details
Type of Photograph
Print, photographSubject Person or Organization
Saugatuck Sea Scouts, Gilman, Charles Hailey 1917-1964, Fiala, Frank, Showers, Stanley, Francis, Dr. Guy Albert 1938-2021, Kuehne, Don, Gallinipper wood Scout's sailboatSubject Place
* Untyped Subject Place
Kalamazoo RiverContext
In a 2023 email from Ralph Birkholz, who was active in organization in the mid to late '50s, the photos show the launching of a motor lifeboat "at the end of Spear St., usually in Spring. I believe it was probably donated by the U.S. Coast Guard after it was retired from service."Collection
1840 ShipbuildingAcquisition
Accession
2022.29Source or Donor
Lovejoy, Frank Sr. circa 1939-Acquisition Method
DonationDimensions
Height
3-1/2 inWidth
3-1/2 inLocation
Box
005 A+B Nautical HistoryRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Saugatuck Sea Scouts, Gallinipper wood Scout's sailboatGeneral Notes
Note
https://sdhistoricalsociety.org/Newsletter/2014/oct14/oct14_newsletter.htm
Below is Frank Lovejoy’s description (and photos) of the Sea Scouts "wood" Gallinipper.
Frank writes:
I took these pictures (not sure of the date) in the mid 50's spring launch. In the pics are Charlie Gilman, our scout master, Stan Showers, in the white bucks, Guy Francis, whose parents owned the Francis Food Store, Frank Fiala at the bow of the boat and Don Kuehne in his runabout. Don's Mom owned a restaurant in Saugatuck. Other members not shown here were Ralph Birkholz, Ted Nielson, Mackie Clough, Pat Devine.
During my time with the scouts, Charlie acquired a 20' sailboat from a person in Holland. The boat had broken its moorings, banged into a dock and caved in the port bow and snapped the mast. It was a fun learning project for our group. While some worked on restoring the hull, Ralph Birkholz and I were assigned to repair the mast. We contacted Mr. Forester who at the time worked a Chris Craft. We explained what our project was and in a few days we were called to his home to pick up a fabricated mast. It was in the rough. Four pieces of timber glued together that didn't look like a mast at all other than it was the correct length. After many hours of planning, sanding, sealing and varnishing the mast was stepped in the completely repaired hull. A job well done. Charlie spent many hours with the crew teaching us the fine points of sailing not to mention seamanship, boat handling and responsibility.
I have no idea what happened to the sail boat. As for the Gallinipper? While I was in the Navy I heard that Charlie had decided for some reason to pull up the self baling decks and make some changes whatever they may have been I don't know.Create Date
March 23, 2022Update Date
March 10, 2024
