User:ChrisGualtieri/NRHP work/Dunton

History
The L.A. Dunton was designed by Thomas McManus and constructed by Arthur D. Story at his shipyard in Essex, Massachusetts in 1921. The Dunton was named after one of the investors, Louis A. Dunton, a sail maker from Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

The register in 1922 lists the Dunton as being 104.3' long, with a 25' beam and 11.6' draft and weighing in at 134 gross tons and 94 net tons.

Captain Felix J. Hogan owned and operated the Dunton as a fishing vessel from 1921 to 1934. By 1923, Hogan had the Dunton powered by a 100 horsepower Fairbanks-Morse engine. Hogan operated the Dunton from Cape Cod to Newfoundland to catch halibut, haddock and occasionally cod. In 1934, Hogan sold the Dunton to Aaron Buffett of Newfoundland for use in his company. The new owner's had the Dunton's rig and bowspirit was removed and a 160 horsepower engine was installed. The alterations resulted in the Dunton no longer being a sailing vessel despite the short foresail and riding sail. The fishing vessel was sold to Erik Percy in 1955 for coasting before J.B. Foote purchased the ship in 1960. Foote altered the ship and hold to increase the cargo capacity of the Dunton.

In September 1963, the Mystic Seaport Museum acquired the Dunton and began to restore the Dunton to its original schooner configuration both internally and externally.