December 30, 2014 — According to the New England Historical Society, as many as 11,000 fishermen have died. This Fishermen’s Memorial Monument, also known as “The Man At The Wheel,” was unveiled in 1925 to honor them.
In February of 1879, 249 fishermen from this Massachusetts city disappeared at sea.
It may have been the deadliest month, but it’s just a fraction of the total casualties by sea this community has seen over the centuries. According to the New England Historical Society, as many as 11,000 fishermen have died.
This Fishermen’s Memorial Monument, also known as “The Man At The Wheel,” was unveiled in 1925 to honor them. The 8-foot-tall bronze statue depicts a fisherman looking out over the harbor as he steers a ship.
The memorial was begun in 1923 as part of the city’s 300th anniversary. It was created by sculptor Leonard Craske and based on a 1901 painting by an artist from the same city where it stands named A.W. Buhler.