Finding Friendship Oral History Project

  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Sally Merrick, Gaylea Hynd
  • The Finding Friendship Oral History Project is a joint effort of the Friendship Museum and the Friendship Village School, directed by Sally Merrick, museum volunteer, and Gaylea Hynd, teacher. In 2003-2004 sixth grade students conducted taped interviews of three generations of lobstermen and women, as well as others associated with the lobstering industry. Printed copies of the interviews and CDs of the printed transcripts are available at the Friendship Museum in Friendship, Maine.

Interviewee Sort ascending Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Winfield Lash Finding Friendship Oral History Project

Winfield Lash, commonly known as Winnie Lash, was born on July 5, 1918, and spent the majority of his life in Friendship, Maine. He and his wife Barbara have been married for 63 years and have seven children, 17 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. After working at the Camden Shipbuilding Company and Bath Ironworks, he worked at the W. S. Carter Boat Yard, which was owned by his uncle, Scott Carter. When his uncle died in 1946, he and Charles Sylvester bought the yard. Two years later, Sylvester sold his share to Winnie’s brother Douglas, and the yard became known as Lash Brothers.

Shawn, Steven Friendship, ME Friendship Museum , Friendship Village School
William McKusic Finding Friendship Oral History Project

William McKusic, commonly known as Bill, was born on September 21, 1971, and relocated from Rockland to Friendship ten years ago. With a background in plumbing and carpentry, Bill has been actively involved in lobstering for the past two decades, primarily serving as a sternman. Alongside his lobstering profession, he is a father of three children.

Joshua Friendship, ME Friendship Museum , Friendship Village School
Wesley Lash Finding Friendship Oral History Project

Wesley Lash, born on August 4, 1945, has been a resident of Friendship for sixty years. Together with his wife Cynthia, they have raised three sons and have two grandchildren. Although Wesley describes his occupation as "making fiberglass dust," he is widely recognized for his skill in building fiberglass boats. Alongside his boat-building endeavors, Wesley has displayed a talent for carving miniature half-hulls and small birds during his leisure time. He currently serves as a town selectman, contributing to the local community.

Brandon, Cooper Friendship, ME Friendship Museum , Friendship Village School
Wayne Havener Finding Friendship Oral History Project

Wayne Havener was born on November 17, 1929, and has always lived in Friendship.  His family has lived in Friendship for three generations, and he has three children and six grandchildren.  He served in the Coast Guard for three years and has been a lobsterman for 54 years.  His hobbies are reading and watching baseball games. 

Douglas Friendship, ME Friendship Museum , Friendship Village School
Virgil Richards Finding Friendship Oral History Project

Virgil Richards, born on May 22, 1936, in Waldoboro, is a fourth-generation resident of Friendship, where he has lived since 1940. He comes from a family with a deep lobstering tradition. With five siblings, three children, and three grandchildren, Virgil has spent 42 years as a lobsterman, making it his lifelong occupation. While lobstering is his primary focus, his special interest lies in his grandchildren.

Jimmy, Dillon Friendship, ME Friendship Museum , Friendship Village School
Suzanne R. Finding Friendship Oral History Project

Suzanne is a young lobster fisher from Friendship Village. Born into a family with a lobstering tradition, Suzanne has been actively involved in the industry from a young age. Her mother accompanies her on lobstering trips, which occur twice a week, specifically on Tuesdays and Saturdays during the late summer months of July and August. Suzanne holds a lobstering license, for which both her parents contributed to the cost of approximately $45.00. Her pot buoy stands out with its distinctive blue and green colors, making it easily identifiable among others.

Alexiee Friendship, ME Friendship Museum , Friendship Village School
Steven G. Finding Friendship Oral History Project

Steven, an experienced lobsterman hailing from Friendship Village, lobsters with his older brother, a junior in high school who owns his own lobster boat. They follow in the footsteps of their father and uncles. Steven's lobstering adventures take him to various locations, including the river, Friendship Long Island, Hall Island, Franklin Island, Egg Rock, and several other spots along the way, venturing out past Egg Rock and fishing in waters as deep as thirty-five fathoms.

Jimmy Friendship, ME Friendship Museum , Friendship Village School
Stan Simmons Finding Friendship Oral History Project

Stan Simmons was born on February 6, 1917.  Now deceased, Stan Simmons was a lobster fisherman for 65 years.  When he was eleven years old, he moved to Friendship from Bremen, Long Island.  He has one adopted child and three grandchildren.  In addition, he was a pilot and spotted fish for purse and stop seiners for seven or eight years.  When he was asked what else he did, he replied, “You name it--everything but deliver babies.”  He served in the Navy for two stints during World War II in the Pacific, where he delivered guerilla fighters to Japanese Islands, a

Randall Friendship, ME Friendship Museum , Friendship Village School
Sam Lash Finding Friendship Oral History Project

Sam Lash, born on September 4, 1986, is a dedicated lobsterman hailing from Friendship, where his family has deep roots spanning four generations. Growing up surrounded by the ocean, Sam developed a passion for fishing and hunting from an early age. At the age of twelve, he was introduced to the world of lobstering by his cousin Isaac, and since then, he has been hooked on the profession. With five years of experience under his belt, Sam has cultivated a deep love and appreciation for the intricacies of lobstering.

Brandon Friendship, ME Friendship Museum , Friendship Village School
Ronald Simmons Finding Friendship Oral History Project

Ronald "Ronnie" Simmons, born on August 19, 1948, is a lifelong resident of Friendship, Maine. Growing up in a family deeply rooted in the lobster business, Simmons developed a strong connection to the industry from an early age. Alongside his passion for hunting and riding his Harley, Simmons has dedicated his life to running his business, Simmons Lobster Wharf. Established in 1971, the wharf serves as a hub for buying lobsters directly from local fishermen and reselling them to customers.

Carl Friendship, ME Friendship Museum , Friendship Village School