Editor’s Note i): The background to the story below is that the ‘Mervin F. Roberts’ boat was indeed once owned by the late Mervin F. Roberts of Old Lyme. Mr. Roberts, who passed away at age 98 in Dec. 2020, was an Old Lyme Citizen of the Year, a Town Selectman, Chaplain of the Old Lyme Fire Department for 50 years and also active in the town in many other committees and groups.

Since 2011, a group of volunteers has been involved in restoring the Wood Island Life Saving Station (WILSS) on Wood Island off Kittery Point in Maine. The station was falling into disrepair and the dream was to restore the station and convert it into both a museum and also a memorial to the brave men, who had manned the rescue boats in all weathers.

One of those volunteers happened to see the ‘Mervin F. Roberts’ former coast guard rescue boat for sale on Facebook by David Smith of Essex, Conn.

The WILSS Association President Sam Reid then started to research the namesake of the ‘Mervin F. Roberts’ boat. He came across an article published in LymeLine.com by Michele Dickey about Mr. Roberts and then emailed me (Olwen Logan – LymeLine.com editor/publisher) to gain more information. I then connected Reid to Old Lyme First Selectman Tim Griswold, who, in turn, connected Reid to Mr. Roberts.

On Oct. 31, 2020, Reid came down and visited Mr. Roberts in his home and learned the history of the boat from him first-hand. That interview was recorded and is included in this video about the extraordinary history of the boat.

The WILSSA purchased the ‘Mervin F Roberts’ from Smith and meanwhile Griswold undertook to raise $6,875 to pay for transportation of the boat from Connecticut to Maine, ultimately exceeding that target.

It transpired that not only is the boat a 1930s US Coast Guard rescue craft – a modified Type SR pulling surfboat – but also it has now been confirmed by national maritime expert Tim Dring that only 110 of these boats were ever made, and only five survive to this day. Moreover, the ‘Mervin F. Roberts’ appears to be the only one of the five remaining boats that can still be used in the water. 

These boats with a length of 25 ft. 6 ins. were built in the Curtis Bay Yard south of Baltimore, Md. Originally they were powered by eight rowers directed by a helmsman. These “surfmen” would go out and assist mariners in distress at any time of the year, often in extremely challenging conditions and returning with up to 14 rescued passengers.

By an extraordinary coincidence, one of the original 110 boats was in place at Wood Island in 1947.

Many thanks to Old Lyme First Selectman Tim Griswold, who attended the launch ceremony in Maine on Friday, for the report below and all the photos. Ten other Old Lyme residents made the trip from Old Lyme to Maine to celebrate the launch. They included Mr. Roberts’s daughter Edie Ritz Main, former Old Lyme Selectman Arthur ‘Skip’ Sibley, Skip and Nancy Beebe, Ellis and Mary Ellen Jewett, and Bill Kelly and his wife.

Visit these links to read a selection of related articles:
Griswold Launches Effort to Raise Funds to Purchase Unique ‘Mervin F. Roberts’ Rescue Boat for Maritime Museum in Maine By Olwen Logan, published Nov. 19, 2020.

Old Lyme Donations Fund Transport of Historic ‘Mervin F. Roberts’ Rescue Boat to Maine to Form Working Museum Exhibit; Video Link Included By Olwen Logan, published May 26, 2021.

Death of Mervin Roberts Announced, “Old Lyme Has Lost One of its Most Remarkable Citizens” (T. Griswold) By Olwen Logan, published Dec. 30, 2020.

Old Lyme Says Poignant Farewell to the ‘Ever Thoughtful’ Mervin F. Roberts By Olwen Logan, published Jan 4, 2021.

KITTERY POINT, MAINE — Friday, Sept. 30, was a beautiful day for the launch of the rescue boat named the Mervin F. Roberts.

The rowing crew mustered at the home of Wood Island Life Saving Station Association (WILSSA) President Sam Reid’s house in Kittery Point (see photo above) to be issued their 14 ft. oars and seat assignments.

Reid briefed the crew before they marched to the Town Dock with their oars in the upright position.

One of the rowers was Rear Admiral John Mauser, Commander of the First Coast Guard District, pictured above with Griswold, who is a former Navy man himself.

After months of renovation, the Mervin F. Roberts arrived at the Kittery Point Town Dock at about 12:15 p.m. to a warm welcome from the 120 or so well-wishers.

The Mervin F. Roberts was expertly launched and her master craftsman, Nate Greely, navigated her to the end of the dock, with the assistance of her new electric motor.

The rowers and helmsman Reid boarded her and began the approximate one-mile journey to Wood Island, accompanied by a flotilla of small boats.

The spectators were ferried to the Island and disembarked on the new floating dock and ascended the 80 ft. gangway to the Life Saving Station.

All marveled at the improvements to the Station, pictured above, as they awaited the arrival of the Mervin F. Roberts.

As she arrived, the crew raised their oars to the vertical position, disembarked and marched smartly up the gangway.

The custom-built marine railway cradle, pictured below, was ready and waiting for its first customer …

The next step was to for the Mervin F. Roberts to gently approach the marine railway cradle …

Then the Mervin F. Roberts needed to be carefully placed on the cradle and finally hoisted up to the Station.

Once that was done, Reid addressed the crowd and thanked dozens of people for their generosity and wonderful work.

He recognized the 11 visitors from Old Lyme and told the crowd the amazing story of how the Mervin F. Roberts came to make the journey from Old Lyme, Conn. all the way up to Wood Island in Maine.

All were urged to explore the Island and check out the Wood Island Life Saving Station (stem to stern). The Mervin F. Roberts was moved into one of the two stalls, where she will reside as the focal point of the museum.

Reid explained that she will be an interactive exhibit, meaning she will be launched from time to time to tell the story of the hardy mariners, who manned Wood Island and other life-saving stations.

And let us not forget the true hero of this story. Pictured above is a smiling Mervin F. Roberts at his home in Old Lyme on Oct. 31, 2020.

When Sam Reid, Wood Island Life Saving Station Association (WILSSA) President, met with Roberts on that day in Old Lyme, Roberts presented the WILSSA with this piece of artwork, which will be hung in the Museum on Wood Island in remembrance of the remarkable man and his extraordinary boat.

Editor’s Note ii): Visit this link to read an article published in SeacoastOnline.com about the Sept. 30 launch of the ‘Mervin F. Roberts.’