"Fishers of Men" Reel 1

Date1957 – 1966

Abstract2157.0012-0015 make up the film "Fishers of Men" Intertitle: "This is the story of The Maine Sea Coast Mission which has for half a century carried a practical Christian ministry, year-round, to the isolated people of the Maine coast. Thinly populated by fishermen and their families and guarded by lighthouse and lifeboat stations, this ocean-bounded parish confronts the Mission boat, Sunbeam III, and her crew with navigational hazards as well as with beauty and awesome grandeur." Seagull perches on pilings by water. Views of Sunbeam III moored in calm harbor, and another view of the ship decked out with nautical flags. Views onboard the ship showing the radar, anchor winch, etc. Views of kids doing a spoon races, a woman cutting a young boys' hair, kids eat watermelon in a contest, crabs that have been caught on a dock. Sunbeam is cast off from a dock and approaching a swinging bridge, and views of the bridge after Sunbeam has passed through. Views from Sunbeam over water of the mountains of Mt. Desert, and a tug pushing a barge. Views from the water of two unidentified lighthouses. At a Matinicus Rock lighthouse, a dory is launched down a ramp and a coast guardsman comes alongside. Views of rough seas breaking on rocks. Views of the storage room at the Mission headquarters which is full of items to be Christmas gifts. Gifts are wrapped in the white paper and red string that is always used for Mission gifts, then boxed for transport. Views onboard the Sunbeam III as Santa Claus hands out gifts to children on the deck. Santa greets children exiting a building, and poses with a group of children. views of Egg Rock Light station, built in 1875, squat and square with the black nub of a light on top, this is said to be the most homely lighthouse on the Maine coast. Views of a ice-bound harbor with lobster boats at docks, and views of a snowy dock and pans of a coastal village in a snowstorm. Views from the water of snowy coastline and mountains, including another lighthouse covered with snow. View of Petit Manan lighthouse off Milbridge, built in 1817, which rises 123 feet. The light is now closed to the public, managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge. Various long shots of other lighthouses in winter. 2157.0012-0015 make up the film "Fishers of Men"