The History of the Model Ship “Robert Reed”
By: George Vair
The history of the model ship Robert Reed is unique and interesting. According to the newspapers of the day, the ship was built in 1853 by a Frank Smith for Mr. Robert Reed, Esq. owner of the Black Ball Line. The model is known as a “dug out”, which means she was made from a pine log. She is more than 11 feet long and about 2.6 feet deep. She was then known as the Joseph Tarrat and was first paraded on September 14, 1853. The occasion was the procession at the “turning of the first sod” for the European and North American Railway route between Saint John and Shediac.
The model also appeared in the procession in connection with the laying of the transatlantic cable, which was finally completed between Newfoundland and Ireland in 1866. At that time she was known as the William Jackson, after which she was laid up at the Custom House. About 1869 she was taken out to Reed’s Castle, as Reed’s residence was known. When the building was converted into a convent the ship was moved again.
In 1894, when the first official Labour Day was proclaimed, members of the Ship Labourers Union (the longshoremen) set out to find the model. Eventually, they found her at Lily Lake. The model was found bearing the name “Charles Drury” and was in a dilapidated condition, with nearly all the spars gone.
The longshoremen took the decrepit ship to the Furness Line warehouse, where they replaced her spars. Paint, oil and varnish soon changed the model to a thing of beauty. The longshoremen also changed the name to Robert Reed, in honour of the owner of the Black Ball Line who had died in 1893.The name was placed on either quarter with the words “Robert Reed St. John N.B.” painted on the stern. The figurehead on the bow is a representation of Robert Reed, carved by Saint John’s well-known ship figurehead carver John Rogerson.
The first official Labour Day arrived on September 3, 1894. The unions in Saint John organized an elaborate parade and the longshoremen were proud to display their model ship. Over three hundred strong, the longshoremen were in uniform, consisting of black trousers, blue serge shirt, with white belt and black Derby hat. Across the front of the shirt were the letters SLU in white and each man wore a bouquet. The float was hauled by four prancing horses. As reported in the newspapers it was the best float in the parade.
Robert Reed—1894 Labour Day Parade—LS-AA197 NB Museum
The longshoremen brought the model ship out again for the 1902, 1903, 1913 and 1932 Labour Day parades. It should be noted that very few parades took place during this period of time. The only Labour Day parade that the longshoremen did not participated in was the 1895 parade. On most Labour Days the activities would consist of sport events and trips away to Digby N.S. or other locations.
The exact date is not clear, but sometime after 1932 the longshoremen donated the Robert Reed to the New Brunswick Historical Society who later turned the ship over to the New Brunswick Museum, where it resides today.
The Robert Reed on display at the New Brunswick Museum
The figurehead on the bow is a representation of the late Robert Reed