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Herman Savage carves boats for many mantles 1980
PAGE FORTY-FOUR - The Bar Harbor Times, Thursday, July 17, 1980
Still None For His Own
Cranberry Island Model Maker Carves Boats For Many Mantels
Herman Savage made his
Scrap wood provides the
first model boat several years
material for the handsomely
ago for the mantelpiece of his
carved models. Herman starts
own home on Cranberry Island,
with a log. "cedar, because it's
but it didn't stay there long. His
the easiest to come by on any of
employer, the late Boynton
these islands," and hollows out
Merche, wanted the model for
a hull. Three were begun from
his son and requested another
a cedar mooring pole that a
for himself.
friend fished out of the water.
Then a friend of the Merches
Tiny cleats, antennae and
ordered a third when he
running lights are fashioned
returned after a day of
from the heads of copper .22
lobstering with Herman's
bullet shells and a common
brother Arvard. He wanted to
straight pin is bent to form
be able to tell friends back
hooks and eyes on a block. "Half
home in Cleveland that he went
of the trouble with America
lobstering "on a boat just like
today is that too much scrap is
that," Savage remembers.
thrown away," Herman
reflects, "but I think we're
Other Savage models now
starting to smarten up."
adorn MDI mantels, including
Jarvis Newman's in Manset
"I like to make the boat as
and Peter Grace's in Northeast
authentic as possible." he
Harbor, but Herman's own
explains, showing how one can
mantel is still boatless.
haul in a lobster pot. The
smoothly painted lobster boat is
buff-decked with white sides
A 28-inch lobster boat built
and a red bottom to resemble
this winter was recently
most of the lobster boats in the
purchased and is now displayed
MDI area.
at the bank in Northeast
Harbor. The sales of chances on
the model will benefit the Mt.
The ingenious handyman
Desert Nursery School.
makes some of his own tools.
Instead of using a lathe, he
These lobster boat and yacht models began from cedar logs like this one resting on
explains, "I check a piece of
the anvil outside Herman Savage's workshed on Great Cranberry Island. Tickets for
The 43-year old Ellsworth
quarter-inch copper wire up in
the lobster boat will be sold to benefit a day care center and the yacht is a small-scale
native has been around boats
the mouth of an electric drill
replica of Maynard Merche's boat.
Great all his Cranberry life. His family Island moved when
to
and turn it on." As it spins, he
shapes details such as the
Kimball Photo
he was a youngster. A one-time
running lights.
lobsterman, he helped build
two Beal and Bunker boats, and
worked with his father George
His knife, "which holds a fine
to "fix-up old wrecked boats
edge." was fashioned from a
family. who still summers on
He has been preparing
finally, in a boat model that will
that no one wanted." For four
razor knife. "just as Mr.
Great Cranberry. Savage also
several logs now piled to one
stay anchored to his own
years after being stationed
Wendell Gilley over in
helps around the island with
side of his yard for an extension
mantel. But more likely it, too,
with the Navy in Key West he
Southwest Harbor explains in
odd jobs like building steps for
to the 12-ft. by 14-ft. workshed
will find another mooring.
worked in a Florida boatyard.
his book on carving birds."
the school.
where he loses himself in his
E.K.
carving on cold winter days. "I
His father fashions toy boats
"Oh, I'm a blacksmith too. he
He helped build his parents'
come in here, kick a fire in the
that children can float in water.
says, explaining a forge and
house, as well as his own
stove and turn the radio on it's
"I took the idea and went the
anvil outside his workshed.
family's in the mid-'60's when
an enjoyable pastime. a kind of
next step - to make something
"My forge is handy if someone
they moved back to Maine from
a hobby."
you could set on a mantel.
needs a piece of metal bent.'
Florida. "When you don't have
Herman explains.
Caretaker for the Merche
much money, you have to do it
Perhaps this winter Herman
yourself," he says.
Savage's "hobby" will result.
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Herman Savage carves boats for many mantles 1980
Newspaper clipping, "Cranberry Island model maker carves boats for many mantles", Bar Harbor Times, 17 Jul 1980, about Herman Savage
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