The Wm. B. Tennison, Calvert Marine Museum’s historic passenger boat, recently celebrated thirty years of cruising, since acquired by the Calvert County Government in 1979. It was 110 years ago that the Tennison was first launched at Crab Island, in Somerset County, Maryland. Constructed with nine large pitch-pine logs, the sixty-foot former buyboat holds 47 passengers and is designated as a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Built as a two-masted oyster-dredging bugeye for brothers B. P. and R. L. Miles, she was converted to a motor-powered oyster buyboat in 1906-07, and spent most of her early years in Virginia. The Tennison was purchased by the J. C. Lore & Sons oyster packing house in 1945, and served both as a buyboat and dredge boat on their leased oyster beds until the company closed in 1978. Since 1979, the Tennison has carried almost 200,000 passengers on her regularly scheduled runs and charter trips during May through October. For many visitors to Calvert County, the Wm. B. Tennison provides the only opportunity to get out on the water and experience the beautiful Patuxent River.
As a passenger carrying vessel, the Wm. B. Tennison undergoes an annual inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard, and is required to have a Coast Guard licensed captain and a mate. Since 1979, captains have included William Hall Jr., James Tallant, Rudy Bennett, and current captain, Don Prescott. Mates have included Terrence Washington, Richard Mullen, Karen Bubadias, Beth Kesecker, Chris Green, Riley Harrison, Melissa McCormick, Dick Roming, Ed Plourde, Ron Jetmore, Don Prescott, Charles Svenson, Bill Nichols, Mike Wolfe, and current mate, Marvin Coon. Many temporary mates have also served over the years. Currently, Bill Keefe serves as relief captain, and Bill Nichols as relief captain and mate.
The success of the Wm. B. Tennison has been due to the dedication and hard work of all the crew and the financial support of the Calvert County Board of Commissioners. Enjoy cruises Wednesday through Sunday at 2 p.m. from May through October. Adults; $7 and children 5 – 12 years old are $4. For more information about the historic boat, call (410) 326-2042 or visit the website at www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/wm_b_tennison.htm.
