Woods Hole Historical Museum

Interviewee Collection Sort ascending Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
John Valois Oral History Collection - Fishing and Fisheries

John Valois is a former resident of Woods Hole and a close friend of the Cahoon family. Born and raised in the area, he grew up spending significant time in the Cahoon household and developed a lasting relationship with the family. John's father owned the Woods Hole garage, which was located near the fish market operated by Sam Cahoon. John often visited the fish market, occasionally helping with tasks and interacting with the fishermen. He also participated in various activities with young Sam Cahoon, such as swimming, shell fishing, and duck hunting.

Unknown Woods Hole, MA Woods Hole Historical Museum
Mildred Wells Oral History Collection - Fishing and Fisheries

Mildred Wells is a former bookkeeper and a significant figure in the fishing industry. Born and raised in New Bedford, she later moved to Woods Hole, Massachusetts, where she began working for Sam Cahoon, a prominent fish merchant. Mildred joined Sam's team in the late 1920s and worked for him until 1931 when she got married. Despite her departure from the fish market, Mildred retained a deep appreciation for the industry and its history.

Unknown Woods Hole, MA Woods Hole Historical Museum
Warren E. Bailey Oral History Collection - Fishing and Fisheries

Warren E. Bailey, born and raised in Woods Hole, has been deeply connected to the fishing industry throughout his life. He grew up on North Street and attended school in the village. At the age of 17, he started working for Sam Cahoon at his fish market. However, his plans to immediately join the service during World War II were delayed, and he continued working for Sam Cahoon throughout the summer. Bailey eventually enlisted in the Navy and served in World War II. After his military service, he returned to the fish market in Falmouth, where he continued his work.

Nancy Egloff Woods Hole, MA Woods Hole Historical Museum
Charles Wheeler and Herbert Graham Oral History Collection - Fishing and Fisheries

The main topic is the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries at Woods Hole. First speaker is Charles Wheeler. He mentions the history of the lab and its name changes and changes in federal departments under which it has worked. Mention of the early history of fisheries off the New England coast including foreign fishermen-explorers such as John Cabot, 1497. Importance of cod for Massachusetts and the ports involved: Newburyport, Beverly, Salem, Boston, Scituate, Cohasset, Plymouth and Provincetown. He mentions the triangle trade of Europe, West Indies, New England.

Unknown Woods Hole, MA Woods Hole Historical Museum
Martin Rockwell Bartlett Oral History Collection - Fishing and Fisheries

Subject: The Swordfishing Industry of the 1980s. Martin R. Bartlett was the owner of the vessel PENOBSCOT GULF. Marty came to Woods Hole in 1956 with the Coast Guard and went out on the CRAWFORD to learn about buoys and rescue. He left the Coast Guard and began to work with Frank Mather of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on bluefin tuna research. While they were on a cruise they also caught swordfish and Marty became enthusiastic about fishing for them. He fished in the Gulf of Mexico for a while out of Pascagoula, then in Georgia.

Robert Livingstone Woods Hole, MA Woods Hole Historical Museum
Russell Brown Oral History Collection - Fishing and Fisheries

Dr. Russell Brown is a distinguished fisheries scientist with a Ph.D. in Fisheries from Michigan State University, as well as an M.S. in Fisheries and a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Cornell University. With over two decades of experience in the field, Dr. Brown has made significant contributions to fisheries research and management. Russell began his career in 1994 at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, where he worked as a stock assessment biologist specializing in haddock and Gulf of Maine winter flounder.

Unknown Woods Hole, MA Woods Hole Historical Museum
Loretta Doucette Oral History Collection - Fishing and Fisheries

Loretta Doucette is a resident of Falmouth, Massachusetts, who has a deep connection to the fishing industry in Woods Hole. Her father was a fisherman who fished for Sam Cahoon, whose market was located in Woods Hole. Loretta's father was born in Nova Scotia in the 1880s and ran away from home at a young age and made his way to Yarmouth. In his early 20s, Loretta's father came to Boston and worked in masonry for a brief period. He even worked on a bridge over the Charles River. Eventually, he decided to settle in Cape Cod and chose Edgartown as his fishing base around 1910.

Unknown Woods Hole, MA Woods Hole Historical Museum