The Story of the "Dewey Pole" - an annual award passed on to a new boat in memory of batteauman Dewey Wood.	6 images

An unidentified boy holds the Dewey Pole by the Amherst Boat Ramp, May, 2007.

The Story of the "Dewey Pole"
and the
First Giving of the Dewey Pole –May 2007, Amherst Boat Ramp
Photos and article by Holt Messerly.

In May of 2007, I was scrambling to get ready to go help launch the new Batteau "Thomas Jefferson's Spirit of New London". Looking around the shelves of my basement, I looked up and in an instant saw this pole and knew it was meant to be taken to the river. It was as if it was calling out to be found again. Years ago I found this broken pole with a metal tip on it bearing the initials "SC" in raised welded metal letters. Thinking about it quickly I suddenly realized what the pole meant to me and potentially everyone in the festival. Having recently lost our dear batteau friend Dewey Wood, the thought came to me that "oh my GOD, this must have been one of Dewey's poles. I can't say for sure, but I remember that the batteau "Sam Cabell" was the boat Dewey was on when I first met him in the early days of the Batteau Festival, and chances are that Dewey had his hands on this broken pole. Like the Riderless Horse tradition, I decided that this pole should be given as one of the highest honors to a new batteau and be passed on to the next new batteau each year, thus passing on a little bit of the spirit of our departed friend Dewey and keeping his memory alive. The first recipient of the Dewey Pole was Glen Shrewsbury. Right away Glen knew what this pole meant as I was hard pressed to come up with the right words. Nothing more really needed to be said. The pole said it all.

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The third giving of the Dewey Pole happened when Brian Roberts
of the new Batteau "Rockfish Runner" was presented with the pole
by Mason Basten at the Captain's Meeting in Faber, May 2009.

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The second giving of the Dewey Pole happened when Mason Basten
of the new Batteau "Grace of the James" was presented with the pole
by Glen Shrewsbury in May, 2008.
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The First giving of The Dewey Pole:

Holt Messerly presented the pole to Glen Shrewsbury in May, 2007.
See photos below:

Holt telling about the Dewey Pole.	Holt showing the broken end.	Holt discussing Dewey Pole more.
Glen Shrewsbury (left) holding the pole after being presented with it by Holt.	Glen (left) and Holt (right) grasp the pole remembering Dewey Wood.	Glen Shrewsbury holds the Dewey Pole.

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