From the Executive Director

The 1956 Cowell Runabout, front, before heading to The State Museum of Pennsylvania, and the circa 1960 Cowell King model, behind, now at the Erie Maritime Museum.
Photo, PHMC

When people think of Pennsylvania, its coastline is usually not the first thing that comes to mind — but Pennsylvania has a rich maritime history. The commonwealth is home to six ports: Philadelphia, Chester, Eddystone, Marcus Hook, Pittsburgh and Erie.

During most of the 18th century and early 19th century, the Port of Philadelphia on the Delaware River was the largest port in the United States. The city also served as a major center for shipbuilding, and the commonwealth chartered a nautical school there, training approximately 2,000 cadets between 1889 and 1947.

Erie, too, is a notable hub of maritime activity within Pennsylvania. Commercial fishing on Lake Erie is one of the city’s oldest industries; however, Commander Oliver Hazard Perry’s major U.S. Naval victory during the War of 1812, the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813, is perhaps the most renowned event in Erie’s maritime past.

Naturally, a shipbuilding industry flourished in Erie as well. Perry established shipyards where the Niagara, the Lawrence and the Ariel were all built in 1813. The industry began in 1797 and the city was home to a number of boatbuilders throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, including Paach Boat Builders, W.W. Loomis Shipyard, Nolan Boats, Lund Boats, American Boiler Works, and Litton Industries (now leased to DonJon Shipbuilding & Repair).

At the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, we continue to actively collect artifacts that document Pennsylvania history, both the familiar and the less familiar, so in October we were thrilled to add two restored Cowell boats to our collection — a 1956 Runabout with one Mercury outboard motor at The State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg and a circa 1960 King model with two Mercury outboard motors at the Erie Maritime Museum — courtesy of the Estate of Robert and Janell Dancause of Gorham, New York, through Cecile Cody of Stanley, New York.

The two Mercury outboard motors on the King model.
Photo, PHMC

Cowell Boat Works was established in 1953 by Thomas Cowell, who began building small wooden boats (13 to 20 feet) when he was unable to find a boat on the market to suit the needs of his livery business. The boats became known around Lake Erie for their strength and ability to cut through rough waves safely. More than 3,200 boats, including Runabouts, which were marketed as “pleasure boats,” were built by Cowell between 1953 and 1960.

These recent additions to our collection strengthen and expand our ability to interpret Pennsylvania’s long-standing relationship with its coast and its maritime history and are on display at The State Museum and the Erie Maritime Museum. We hope if you are in either city, you will stop by to see them.

Andrea Lowery
Executive Director, PHMC