Friends of the Governor Stone Inc

S.O.S.

On the first major sortie after her $100,000+ restoration, which included over 4000 volunteer hours over 8 months, the Governor lost a prop blade.  Severe vibration damaged the stern post and adjoining timber.  Water was flooding the vessel.  Judicious grounding and 24 hour monitoring prevented her from sinking (it would have been her fourth time.)  Repairs require a master boatbuilder, so she is far from home at Bill Holland Boatyard in Mississippi today.   Here is the kicker.

The Friends are exhausted; the coffers are bare.  Total cost of the event - $16,534!!!

Help us get the Governor Stone back in the water.

Here is her story:

I am the 137 year old wooden Gulf Coastal Schooner Governor Stone.  I am designated as a National Historic Landmark, the last known of my design still sailing the waters of the Northern Gulf Coast.

My friends (Friends of the Governor Stone, Inc.) are working hard to preserve, maintain and share my history with communities along the Northern Gulf Coast from my birthplace in Pascagoula, MS to Carrabelle, FL.  My home port is in St. Andrews/Panama City, FL at the St. Andrews Marina.

There are always unexpected repairs and issues that come with advanced age and the fact that I am a wooden vessel still sailing in the bays of the Gulf Coast.  The Friends of the Governor Stone is a non-profit volunteer organization that depends on memberships and donations for my upkeep as a living, working museum of nautical times of the past.  I have survived several hurricanes, been sunk three times and worked as a freighter, oyster buy boat, World War II sail trainer, sponge boat and pleasure craft.  Now I enjoy my retirement, sharing my story through the Friends of the Governor Stone.

Over the past 137 years there have always been those who saw my inner beauty and the historical value of preserving me and my history.  I hope you will become my friend and make a donation to help preserve and maintain the Governor Stone.

More details of my history and pictures of the work being done can be found on my Facebook page GovernorStone and my website www.GovernorStone.org.

Thank you for your donation and for becoming a part of my story.  You are keeping History Alive!