Person:James Graves (3)

founder of Graves Yacht Yards in Marblehead

from "The Story of Essex County", photo of James E. Graves, "James E. Graves, E. Selman Graves - One of the reasons for New England's long supremacy in the upper ranks of mechanical and industrial porduction is the habit of the genuine New Englander of spending a lifetime in his business and of having another generation take up the work where he leaves it and go on to a larger achievement. An example of this custom is James E. Graves and his son, E. Selman Graves.

    James E. Graves was born in Marblehead on January 1, 1850, the son

of Eleazer T. born on November 9, 1820, died April 19, 1896, and Olive Perkins (Emery) Graves born in Ellsworth, Maine on August 28, 1820, died September 18, 1896. He received a general education in the public schools of his native community. As a boy, he showed marked interest in boats and although he worked for a time at farming and later was employed at the Roberts Box Shop in Marblehead, his spare time he spent in building small punts.

    The site of his early shipbuilding labors was a n old barn which still

stands, where he specialized in the construction os small craft. The first boat was a dory designed and built by Mr. Graves himself, and it was so successful that orders for more were received. In 1895, he began to devote his entire time to boat-building. The buisness grew rapidly and met a demand for larger boats, although production was confined for the most part to craft under seventy-five feet over-all. Many boats, both sail and motor, built by Graves are now to be found along the Atlantic coast.

    More shop and storage space were added gradually, but steadily, to

the original plant, and in 1910 the construction of a long sea wall provided a large addition to the original area. In 1928, a new ship building was erected, designed to provide larger and better facilitiees for the production of boats of fine workmanship and for improved service to yacht owners, all i nkeeping with Mr. Gravces' high standard of quality.

    In 1929, the business was incorporated under the firm name of James

E. Graves, Incorporated. Business continued to expand, and at one time sixty-eight workers were employed by the plant. In 1933, the Graves Company purchased the plant previously known as the Marlbehead Yacht Yards, known aalso as Stearns and McKay Yacht Yard, and the combined yards now comprise one of the largest and best equipped plants along the coast for the building and storing of boats.

    Mr. Graves died on August 7, 1930.  His passing was a distinct shock

to the Marblehead community and to his many buisness and personal friends. Althought not prominently active in civic affairs, he was always ready to support those projects which were desinged to better and advance the community. His life, as a record of achievement won with scanty means by steadfast labor toward sownd ideals, may well serve as an inspiration to those who follow.

    In 1895 James E. Graves married Esther H. Roads, of Marblehead, the

daughter of Edward S. and Caroline W. (Clark) Roads. Following his sudden death, Mrs. Graves assumed the position of president of the corporation and, with her son as the directing head of the business, carried on the operation of the yard. E. Selman Graves was made president in 1933, and continies, with the assistance of his sisters, Edith P. and Mildred H. Graves, treasurer and clerk of the coroporation respectively, to doncdut the buisness along with the same pricniples of real service laid down by its founder.

    E. Selman Graves was educated in the public schools and was

graduated from Marblehead High School in 1919. He immediately became associated with his father officially in the boat-building business. He married Elizabeth M. Schofield of Marblehead in 1921, and theay are the parents of three children, Barbara S., El Selman, Jr., and Donald S. Graves."