Abstract:
Elmo Wade was a Carteret County boat builder working at the turn of the century. Growing up in a maritime community, Wade apprenticed as a shipbuilder, constructing both sailing and power boats. Beginning in the 1940s, Wade started constructing a fleet of boats for the local menhaden fishery. He soon expanded his business to include sportfishing vessels. Many of his customers received small models of spritsail skiffs as a thank you from Wade. Today, one of these models remains in the Smithsonian Museum’s maritime collection.