Eileen Scanlon sits on the bow of a 44-foot wooden boat on Wednesday, May 25, 2016, underneath a home she rents in Highlands, N.J. (Thomas P. Costello/The Asbury Park Press via AP) NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT
Workers raising a waterfront home in New Jersey made a nautical discovery: a 44-foot wooden boat from the 19th century.
The 12-foot wide vessel, its rudder fully intact, was found beneath Eileen Scanlon’s Highlands bungalow on Wednesday, the Asbury Park
Press reported. The boat likely was used to transport coal and other good along local waterways, and pieces of coal were found scattered along the floor.
Rumors of the vessel’s existence had circulated for years. Scanlon got a peek of what looked like a rudder through the home’s crawlspace shortly after buying it in 2010, but she didn’t anticipate the size and scope of the boat. It’s built from 3-inch-thick wooden plants and is held together with 18-inch iron nails.
Scanlon temporarily stopped construction under the house and called Russell Card of the Historical Society of Highlands.
“It was beyond amazing,” Card said. “I’ve heard about it before and the first time I ever saw it was yesterday. I never realized it was so big. I was amazed at the craftsmanship of it.”
The property was once a dock of sorts and people used to roll boats on wheels to get to and from the water, said Card, who believes someone left the boat and built the home around it.
The boat will be destroyed, but Scanlon plans to place the bow in her garden.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Why would they destroy such a historical find? Surely someone would want to buy it.
Bet the vessel is worth more than the house and property! Hope they don’t destroy it. Tear the house down, sell the boat, and build a better house!
Tear the house down restore the boat and live in the boat. When you want to relocate take up anchor and shove off.
Don’t destroy let other people see. it put in museum worth a lot of money I bet
It’s a shame that the boat can’t be removed and carried to a museum.
It can be – several boats are in museums in other countries (Egypt and Sweden, for instance).
It’s a shame about destroying the boat. Are there to many of these in museums to look at that this one doesn’t have any value?
A demolition and general contractor with a structural engineer could easily save the boat AND house.
The proper use of temporary supports on concrete pads, together with some temporary beams used. Pull out the boat.
Replace the temp structure with a permanent series, and enclosure built and you’re done.
Tear down the house…..Move the boat somewhere to display it,,,,
Build a new house on the property……….Problem solved !!
MLCJ