America (1897)
The America, No. 1 was a 19th-century American pilot boat built in 1897 for Captain James H. Reid, Sr., of Boston and designed by Boston designer Thomas F. McManus. The Boston "America" did not resemble her famous namesake, yacht "America", rather she was designed with a fishing schooner "Indian header" bow. After serving 21 years in the Boston Pilots' Association, the "America" was sold to David W. Simpson of Boston in 1918. Construction and service. On January 18, 1897, the iron keel for the pilot boat "America" weighting six tons, was taken by a six-horse team  to John Bishop's shipyard at Vincent's point, in Gloucester, Massachusetts. On February 28, 1897, Boston's new pilot boat "America" was on the stocks at the John Bishop's shipyard. She was designed by Thomas F. McManus of Boston for Captain James H. Reid, Sr., of Boston. Reid was the principal owner and formally of the pilot boat "Florence". She had the new design from which other boats tested their speed. On April 19, 1897, "America" was launched from the shipyard of John Bishop of Gloucester. Pilots James H. Reid, Jr., and Captain Bruce B. McLean were assigned  to the new boat. She went on her trial trip down the Boston Harbor on May 19, 1897, with 50 guests. Her dimensions were 101 feet overall, 85 feet length on waterline, 23 foot beam, depth of hold 10 feet 6 inches. She was built of white oak frame planking and fastened with galvanized iron and bolts and spikes below the waterline. The Boston "America" did not resemble her famous namesake, rather she was designed with a fishing schooner 'Indian head' bow. On July 8, 1897, the pilot-boat "America" was in the Fisherman's Race against the fishing schooner  James S. Steele. The race went along Long Island. The "America" beat the "James S. Steele" by three minutes. Pilot Bruce McLean took the place of Captain James Reid who was on the battleship USS "Massachusetts". In December, of the same year, Captain Reid of "America," No. 1, won another Fisherman's Race against pilot-boat "No. 2" and the schooner "Harry L. Belden". On April 1, 1898, the Boston pilot-boat "America" rescued the crew of the Nova Scotia vessel "Genius," 18 miles off the Boston Light. The rescued men were transferred from the "America" to the pilot-boat  Hesper, No. 5. In 1900, Boston had seven pilots boats in commission. The "America" was Boston's pilot schooner number one. The other Boston boats included, the "Liberty," No. 3; "Adams," No. 4; "Hesper," No. 5; "Varuna," No. 6; Minerva, No. 7; and Sylph, No 8. On January 20, 1902, Pilot Benny Nelson, of the pilot boat "America No. 1", brought in a Dominion Line steamer "New England". On August 22, 1901, pilot Joseph W. Colby of the pilot boat "America, No. 1", brought into Long Wharf the fruit steamer "Admiral Schley" through a thick fog 140 miles from the  South Shoal lightship. The pilot boat "America No. 1", was used as a lightship station boat. Captain James Reid boarded the Warren liner "Sagamore", from the "America" station boat on November 3, 1901. When the Boston pilots reorganized in 1901, down to five boats, the pilot-boat "America" was one of the boats that continued in the service. Captain Reid was with the "America", and piloted the last vessel under the old system. On April 29, 1902, Boston pilot-boat "America, No. 1", carried the ashes of Captain Franklin Fowler, encased in a small rosewood box, at the National Dock  wharf, East Boston. Captain James H. Reid was in attendance on the deck of the "America" during the memorial. End of service. On December 29, 1918, after serving 21 years in the Boston Pilots' Association, the "America" was sold to David W. Simpson of Boston. The "America" had been laid up at the National Dock for the past 2 years.