Fred Bodin Submits-
Historic Steam Ferry Prudence Visits Gloucester
The 62 foot long Prudence docked in Gloucester yesterday on her way from Belfast ME to Greenwich CT. The owner and two crew came into the gallery and told me about the 102 year old ship. She was originally steam powered and built of wood at East Boothbay in 1911. Prudence ferried passengers from Tiverton to Prudence Island in Narragansett Bay (RI) for 50 years. Later, the vessel gave water-based tours of the Kennedy compound in Hyannis. The Kennedys themselves also chartered Prudence for parties. She then went back to Maine for sightseeing on the Penobscot River, and will now be giving tours in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Prudence at the State Fish Pier in Gloucester
Prudence on Narragansett Bay.
Ted Kennedy at the wheel of the Prudence. This photo hangs in the cabin. Courtesy of Jonathan Wilkes.
Good Morning Gloucester 
“The Prudence is one of just three Maine-built, steam-powered ferry vessels that remain in operation. The others are the Katahdin, which operates on Moosehead Lake; and the Sabino, owned by Mystic Seaport in Connecticut.” Bangor Daily Times
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Thanks for the photos and this history Fred. Prudence is an important, beautiful classic and the owners deserve a lot of credit for putting her into such great shape. That was good luck for Gloucester to have her stop by.
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I grew up on Gloucester, ma and now live on prudence island. Seems fitting that there is a lot in common me and a boat!
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