Museum to host public viewing of ‘The Sinking of the Fenwick Island’
by Tina McCloud
The Reedville Fishermen’s Museum will present “The Sinking of the Fenwick Island” at 6:30 p.m. Monday, January 5, at the Fairfields Volunteer Fire Department, 119 Main Street, Reedville. This 1968 tragedy off the coast of North Carolina involved the Fenwick Island (above), a menhaden boat with a local crew of 14.
That day in 1968—Saturday, December 7—began much the same as always for the menhaden fleet working out of Beaufort, N.C. The weather was fine for fishing off the coast—at least at first.
The Fenwick Island, with a crew of 14—all from the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula—was among the boats that went out that day. She would never return.
The Fenwick sank in a storm that night. Only seven crewmen made it home to….
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