The Primrose, a historic seine fishing boat that helped shape Destin’s maritime history, will celebrate its 100th birthday with a free community event on May 3 at the Destin History & Fishing Museum.
- Built in 1925, the Primrose holds the distinction of being both the last seine boat constructed in Destin and the first of its kind to have a motor installed, making a transition between traditional and modern fishing methods.
“She was created in 1925, so she is 100 years old. She is the first seine boat of her kind to have a motor installed in it and the last one ever built in Destin,” said Vivienne Williams, executive director of the Destin History & Fishing Museum.
The centennial celebration will take place from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the museum grounds where the restored boat is displayed. The family-friendly event will feature free admission, a bounce house, cake, and period games from the 1920s and 1930s including hopscotch and hoop rolling.
- To commemorate the occasion, the museum will offer new Primrose merchandise, including specially designed hats and stickers, which will be available for purchase in the gift shop.
The boat was commissioned by Captain John W. Melvin Sr., a local fisherman who knew exactly what features a fishing vessel needed, and built by John George Maltezo, who moved to Destin in 1922. The 36-foot vessel served the fishing community from 1925 to 1968.
Williams noted that the Primrose played a significant role in training local fishermen whose descendants continue to fish in the area today. “A lot of people got their start on the Primrose and vessels like her, and then their descendants are still fishing in this area today,” she said.
According to Williams, the Primrose represents an important chapter in Destin’s identity as a fishing community.
- “We’ve been a fishing community for thousands of years. We have evidence that ties people to fishing back in the ice age here in the museum,” Williams said. “Having the Primrose stand from 1925 to now shows that Destin does fishing, we still do fishing. That’s how we roll here in this town.”
The seine boat was used for a specific type of fishing that involved deploying a long net in a U-shape from the shore to capture fish.
“Seine nets are about five feet tall and about a hundred yards long,” Williams explained. “What you do is you leave one end of the net on shore, take the seine boat out like the Primrose in a U-shape, and bring the other net to the shoreline, then you pull it in, corralling the fish against the shoreline.”
The Primrose has undergone two restoration efforts over the years, with the most recent occurring around 2000. The museum displays several original artifacts from the boat, including its bell and navigational lights.
- The museum and the City of Destin have planned additional preservation work in the future to address issues with the boat’s cradle and repainting needs.
The centennial celebration coincides with the Destin History & Fishing Museum’s 20th Anniversary. The museum is welcoming the community to come join in the celebration.
