Official Site of The State of New Jersey

The A.J. Meerwald schooner and shipping sheds and wharves are listed on the New Jersey and National Registers. The Meerwald, constructed in 1928, is a significant representation of a Jersey oyster schooner. This distinct style of vessel was developed to meet the needs of the oyster industry in the Delaware Bay during the 1920s. The ship is a product of the Delaware Bay shipbuilding industry. There are approximately four of these type vessels remaining and only one other is under sail. After years of use and eventual decline the ship was saved and fully restored in 1995 by the precursor organization of the Bayshore Center at Bivalve. In 1998 the A. J. Meerwald was designated the official tall ship of New Jersey by Governor Christine Whitman.  

The shipping sheds and wharves were constructed in 1904 with roofs added to the wharves in 1916. The row of seven remaining sheds was the centerpiece of the Maurice River Cove oyster industry. These buildings are one of the few remainders of the multi-million-dollar industry that once flourished on the bay. Built by the Central Railroad of New Jersey, the sheds and its associated industries employed thousands of workers and defined the regional economy. The Bivalve Shipping Sheds are vital in understanding the early twentieth century oyster harvesting industry in New Jersey. The Bayshore Center at Bivalve purchased the site in 2001 for use as its headquarters, a museum, educational facility, and as the base of operations for the tall ship A. J. Meerwald.  

The 2025 Trust grant will help fund the restoration of the A.J. Meerwald Schooner, including the replacement of the keel, keel fasteners, and keelson.  

The previous Trust grant helped fund restoration and a historic vessels report. Following its restoration, the ship has been used for educational programs emphasizing the role of maritime activity in the history, culture and environment of the Delaware Bay. In 1998, Governor Whitman proclaimed the Schooner New Jersey's "official tall ship."

For more information, visit: http://bayshorecenter.org/a-j-meerwald/