04/11/2024
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Dick Ryder from Orleans Historical Society on CG36500
This is a Falmouth Reads Together event for our 2024 book pick The Finest Hours!
Join us on Saturday, April 13th at 1pm in the Hermann meeting room for Dick Ryder's presentation on CG36500, the Coast Guard lifeboat at the heart of The Finest Hours rescue.
On February 18th 1952 Dick Ryder was a 12 year old boy in Chatham, listening to his dads radio receiver as the messages regarding the rescue went back and forth. He later served as the Coxswain of CG36500. Come listen to his fascinating story.
"Motor Lifeboat CG36500 was built in 1946 at Curtis Bay, Maryland Coast Guard Yard, as all 36 footer's were, and stationed at the Chatham, Massachusetts Coast Guard Lifeboat Station. Like most 36's, it had an active and glorious career with many rescues. Decommissioned in 1968, today the CG36500 is the only operating survivor of its class on the East Coast, and one of only a handful that still exists anywhere in the country. This Gold Medal boat is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and can be viewed by the public nearly year-round at its berths in Orleans."
Dick Ryder was born and raised on Cape Cod. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1959 and after 20 years of active service, he retired as a Lieutenant Commander. After retirement he engaged his carpentry skills and worked as a wooden boat carpenter. He excelled in wood working, having built five wooden boats, beautifully carved and gilded signs, half hull models, several decks, a dining room addition, a gazebo, and stairs to the beach in Eastham. Everything he constructed was built to "go to sea." He was involved with the move of the Nauset Lighthouse, replacing the slate roof of the Oil House at the Light, the furnishing of Old Harbor Life-Saving Station, the Friends of The Cape Cod National Seashore and the ongoing maintenance of the restored Motor Lifeboat CG36500. He was proud to have safely piloted the CG36500 to places like Boston, Salem, Nantucket, Cuttyhunk, New London and most Cape Cod ports. He authored two books about the Old Harbor Station. The first being "Old Harbor Station, Cape Cod" in 1990. The second, in 2010, was "Seashore Sentinel."
This program is supported by the Falmouth Reads Together Committee.
CONTACT: Adult Services 508-457-2555 x7 [email protected]
LOCATION: Hermann Foundation Meeting Room
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