Reidar Bendiksen and Jim Dwyer
The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project
The Working Waterfront Festival Community Documentation Project is an ongoing oral history project documenting the history and culture of the commercial fishing industry and other port trades. The project was begun in 2004 in conjunction with the Working Waterfront Festival, an annual, education celebration of commercial fishing culture which takes place in New Bedford, MA. Interviewees have included a wide range of individuals connected to the commercial fishing industry and/or other aspects of the port through work or familial ties. While the majority of interviewees are from the port of New Bedford, the project has also documented numerous individuals from other ports around the country. Folklorist and Festival Director Laura Orleans and Community Scholar/Associate Director Kirsten Bendiksen are Project Leaders. The original recordings reside at the National Council for the Traditional Arts in Maryland with listening copies housed at the Festival's New Bedford office.
Azure Dee Westwood
Reidar Bendiksen is a Norwegian fisherman who has been in the fishing industry since 1963. After 25 years of fishing, he transitioned into the fishing gear business, where he continues to work up to the present. James M. Dwyer Jr., also known as Jim Dwyer, has been involved in the fishing industry for the last forty-seven years. For the past twenty-two years, he has served as the Secretary, Treasurer, and Business Agent for the Local 1749, ILA, also known as the Lumpers Union.
Scope and Content Note
This interview with Reidar Bendiksen and Jim Dwyer provides a rich historical account of the fishing industry, with a particular focus on the role of lumpers and the unique story of "Fish Mary," a woman who worked in the lumping trade in the 1960s. The interviewees discuss the changes in the industry over the years, including the shift from wooden to steel boats, changes in crew size, and the impact of union rules. The interview also delves into the challenges faced by the lumping business due to lack of product and regulations, leading to a decrease in the number of people entering the industry. The interviewees express concern about the loss of industry history and the importance of preserving it. The interviewees also share personal anecdotes and memories of "Fish Mary," highlighting her hard work, dependability, and unique role as a woman in a predominantly male industry. They discuss the challenges she faced, including the superstitions around women being on boats. The interview took place at the Working Waterfront Festival, although the exact date is unknown. The interview was transcribed by Azure Dee Westwood.
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