1920 Buyboat Winnie Estelle, Back on the Miles River After a New Keel, Will Be Christened at CBMM Nov. 7

ST. MICHAELS, MARYLAND — The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum will christen the 1920 buyboat Winnie Estelle at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, during its OysterFest. The boat returned to the Miles River this month after a three-year refit in the museum's working shipyard that included replacing its original keel, according to a museum release dated Oct. 14.

Noah T. Evans, a native Smith Islander and occasional boatbuilder, built the boat in 1920 and named it for his two daughters, according to the museum's collection record. The 64-foot, 9-inch boat worked the lower Chesapeake for more than 50 years, buying fish and oysters directly from watermen and carrying them to city markets or large packing houses.

Its last Chesapeake owners were Smith Islanders Watson Marie "Shug" Marshall and his son, Eugene "Gene" Marshall, who bought it in 1960, the record says. After they sold it in 1975, it went to the Caribbean as a cargo boat. It was later rebuilt as an island trader carrying lumber from Honduras to Belize, and then ran as a charter boat in Belize. Michael Whitehill of Centreville bought it in early 2012. An anonymous donor gave it to the museum in 2014.

The museum says the buyboat will next serve as a floating classroom and ecotourism vessel. Visiting buyboats from around the Bay are also expected.

OysterFest runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine, at 213 N. Talbot St. Advance online admission for nonmembers is $22 for adults; $19 for seniors 65 and older and students 17 and older; $10 for active and retired military; and $9 for children 6 to 17. Children 5 and younger get in free. At the door, each of those prices is $2 higher. CBMM members get discounted pricing. Free parking with a shuttle will be available at St. Michaels Middle/High School. Non-service dogs are not allowed.