Schooner Shenandoah Schooner Shenandoah is hauled out at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard, Monday, Dec. 10 for inspection. The ship, which hails from Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard, Mass., is a 108-foot square topsail schooner. (Photo Joe Orchulli II)

There was an eerie silence and stillness in the air while the 108-foot wooden schooner Shenandoah was being prepared to be hauled on the chilly morning of Monday, December 10 at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard.

Snowflakes gently swirled in the air against the backdrop of the faded hull and cold steel anchors braced on the port and starboard sides of the ship, with a slate gray sky overhead, as the breathing of shipyard diver Murray Perce could be heard through a remote speaker monitoring his progress in the deep, dark cold under the creaking hull of the old ship.

Once Perce had completed his tasks below, Joe Jackimovicz gave a whistle and Dave Stoddard hit the switch that pulls the huge chain hoisting the ship out of the water, safely onto the railway.

The schooner was towed into Boothbay Harbor by the 65-foot tug Jaguar which left Vineyard Haven Thursday, December 6 and arrived at Boothbay Harbor Shipyard Friday, December 7. The crew kept warm in front of the ship's coal stoves en-route, as Shenandoah has no external power.

The ship is scheduled to undergo inspection and possibly an extensive overhaul, the first time since the ship was launched in 1964.

Since 1964, Robert S. Douglas, owner and founder of the world-famous Black Dog Tavern Co., has captained the square-topsail schooner Shenandoah, offering its passengers the once-in-a-lifetime experience of cruising New England's beautiful coastal waters as it was done centuries ago - under the power of sail alone, off the coast of Martha's Vineyard Island.

Along with the schooner Alabama, captained by Morgan Douglas, the mission of the Black Dog Tall Ships is to introduce to their customers the maritime heritage of New England and offer the true experience of sail to primarily, kids.

"These two of the only schooners around that exclusively carry kids," said Morgan.

The company offers a wide range of services including their Kids' Cruises, day sails, weddings, private charters, a wellness cruise and more.

Captain Robert S. Douglas was a jet fighter pilot for the Air Force from 1956 to 58, retiring with the rank of captain. He first became involved with boats summering and sailing on Martha's Vineyard as a boy. In the early 1960s, he found himself working on the Harvey Gamage Shipyard-built windjammer Mary Day, and there hatched a plan to move to the Vineyard, build a big windjammer boat, and take passengers back to the past days of tall ships and the life of sailing them.

His dream came to fruition in the design and commissioning of the construction of Shenandoah in 1964. Based on an original 1850 design of the fast revenue cutter Joe Lane, with the change of line, balance and sail he created a fast and efficient schooner. The addition of square topsails to the foremast (and Captain Douglas' dogged intention to get the U.S. Coast Guard to approve the method) made Shenandoah a truly unique vessel of power and a beauty to behold at sea or mooring. But now that he had his beautiful schooner, he had to have a place to admire her!

There was an old seaside inn, part boarding house, part ship's chandlery sitting on the beach in Vineyard Haven. As fortune would have it, it became available and Captain Douglas walked through the front door and had a look around, accompanied by wife Charlene and his faithful lab-boxer mix, `Black Dog.'

From the downstairs library window he could see Shenandoah, swinging on her mooring in the harbor, patiently waiting the new sailing season. The captain bought the old house and settled in. Many a seagoer would drop by, and often they were hungry, but there were no year-round restaurants anywhere in town - a terrible situation for hungry sailors.

One desperately cold day in 1969, over a bitter cup of coffee and a dry, packaged, store bought donut, the captain had finally had enough. He started sketching on a paper napkin. A small gambrel roofed building started to take shape. Excited townsfolk helped build and shingle the establishment, and were eager to share their recipes for pies, chowders, and soups.

On January first, 1971, when the doors finally opened, there wasn't an empty seat in the house, and The Black Dog Tavern was born.

The distinctive graphic element of the tavern's `Black Dog' also caught attention and became as popular as the menu, and is now seen worldwide on T-shirts, apparel, and many other useful items.

Captain Douglas started the Coastwise Packet Company offering sailing trips and charters on the Shenandoah. He built the offices and the Coastwise Wharf to support his seagoing ventures, as well as to welcome watercraft visitors on extended stay to the Vineyard, or to grab a famously delicious meal at the adjacent Black Dog Tavern.

The Coastwise offices are an amazing collection of boats, models, maritime artifacts, and art gathered by Captain Douglas.

Through the open doors of Coastwise Packet have passed countless sailors, many trained by Captain Douglas as crew or mates aboard Shenandoah, many who have settled to live on the island. The presence of Coastwise Packet and the love of boats supported by Captain Douglas has helped create a wooden boat industry that surrounds Vineyard Haven Harbor including ship designers, builders, fine craftsmen, carpenters, and enthusiasts.

The Douglas family enterprises are now being consolidated under the management of Robert Douglas, Jr. and Jamie Douglas.

Coastwise Packet Co. & Wharf will be known as The Black Dog Tall Ships and The Black Dog Wharf, respectively. Corner 5 Surf Company, and Captain Douglas' boathouse, a.k.a. Corner 5 Shipbuilding join The Black Dog campus.

There are tentative plans for a maritime museum to display Captain Douglas' vast number of boats and nautical treasures.

For more information, go to www.theblackdogtallships.com.