Molly Kool and the "Jean K" on Bay of Fundy
Canada's First Woman Captain in North America
Jobs were scarce when Molly graduated from high school in the 1930s. She turned to the skills learned during her summers working on her father’s scow. Their home was located at Alma, New Brunswick, a small fishing village on the Bay of Fundy.
Molly Kool and the “Jean K”
Molly, christened Myrtle, was born February 23, 1916, second daughter of Dutch sea captain Paul Kool, and Myrtle Anderson. Paul built and operated a 70-foot engine-and sail-driven scow, the “Jean K”. With it, he transported heavy cargo from ships anchored off shore.
He worked through the Bay of Fundy where tides are described as the highest in the world. Often, Boston, Massachusetts was his area of work. Great skill was needed to maintain the scow beside the great ships while they unloaded in rough waters.
Bay of Fundy Training
At age twenty-one, Molly Kool was accepted at the Merchant Marine School in St. John, New Brunswick. With perseverance she was able to prove her worthiness. Her training and experiences on the Bay of Fundy were invaluable. She obtained her Mate’s Certificate in October 1937 and was named mate on her father’s scow.
Two years later, after three written tests and extensive harbour exercises and examinations, she graduated from the Merchant Marine Institute in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Her Coastal Master Certificate entitled Molly to work as a captain in coastal waters. In a telegram to her family, she said, “Call me Captain from now on.”
Molly Kool became Captain of the “Jean K” when her father stepped down. He continued as mate until his retirement. There were some criticisms from crewmen, but she soon received their respect and admiration.
Newspaper Stories
Newspaper stories portrayed her as a pretty and frivolous girl adrift in a man’s work. She proved that she was a woman of courage, tenacity, and endurance. In the hard life of freighting, she worked in the greatest tides in the world. She repaired engines, ran the winch, set the sails and handled the lines. She also sewed canvas and spliced ropes as needed.
There were three major occurrences during Molly’s five years as Captain.
- A Norwegian captain attempted to force her from her berth at the Moncton wharf. When he rammed her boat, the lines broke and the “Jean K” began to drift. It could have been destroyed in the dangerous tidal currents, but became grounded safely. The Kools successfully sued the Norwegian captain for costs.
- The “Jean K” was involved in a collision with another boat in dense fog. Molly was tossed overboard by the impact. After swimming under the boat, she grabbed a piece of floating wood. Passengers on the other boat tossed life rings into the water. Molly yelled, "Stop throwing useless stuff at me and send a boat".
- Molly’s boat, severely damaged by a gasoline explosion, was towed into Maine for repairs. While waiting and fully expecting to return to the sea, Molly decided to quit.
She married Ray Blaisdell, of Bucksport, Maine, in 1944. They were together for 20 years before he died. In the 1960s, she married businessman John Carney, who bought her a boat, which he dubbed the Molly Kool. Molly sold Singer sewing machines for many years. She died February 25, 2009, two days after her ninety-third birthday, in Bangor, Maine.
Mary Majka, who is involved in a fundraising effort to pay for removal of Molly’s home from Alma to the Fundy National Park commented, “She was good enough that she won the respect of the old salts”.
Sources:
Albert County Historical Society Museum Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick
Alma, New Brunswick
|
Bay of Fundy High Tide
|
Bay of Fundy Low Tide
|
What do you think about this article?
More in History
Latest Articles