Gunnar J. Gundersen
Workers on the New Bedford Waterfront
These oral histories were produced in 2017 as part of the Workers on the Waterfront Oral History Project conducted by New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center with funding from an Archie Green Fellowship provided by the Library of Congress.
Michelle Murray
Gunnar Gundersen describes his work as the head of Scandia Propeller Services and Supply, Inc. located in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Scandia works on marine propellers and hydraulics. Gunnar is thirty-seven years old and is a third generation worker in this family-owned business. His great-grandfather immigrated to the United States from Norway and founded the company in 1961. He has been working at the company since he was sixteen years old. His father recently retired from the day-to-day business operations and Gunnar has stepped in and now heads the company. He is very proud of his Norwegian heritage and has a strong work ethic and deep desire to keep his company moving forward. He speaks about the sense of history and community that is present on the working waterfronts of New Bedford and Fairhaven. He talks about the operation of the business and the pros and cons of working in a family-owned company. His job isn’t just work for him because he considers it a career that he’s invested time and training in and he loves it. He’s determined to show that the third-generation of a family owned business can succeed. He enjoys the support of his family and their presence in the company.
This oral history was produced in 2017 as part of the Workers on the Waterfront Oral History Project conducted by New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center with funding from an Archie Green Fellowship provided by the Library of Congress.
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