NEW BEDFORD — The Ernestina received a hearty welcome and a round of applause Saturday as the historic schooner, showing off more than $1 million in restoration work, arrived home in the city.
Among those welcoming her were distinguished visitors from the Republic of Cape Verde: Ambassador Fatima Veiga and Consul General Maria de Jesus Mascarenhas.
Also here to mark the schooner’s return was Maria Mendes, the granddaughter of Henriques Mendes, who bought the schooner when it was named the Effie M. Morrissey and gave her the name Ernestina. Mendes refitted the boat and turned it into a trans-Atlantic packet, bringing immigrants here from the Cape Verdean islands.
Good Morning Gloucester 