2022 Traditional Artisans: Knot Tying

The Sackets Harbor Heritage Area Committee is organizing a series of Traditional Artisan demonstrations this summer, beginning with Knot Tying, on Saturday, July 30, from 10 am to 4 pm, at the Pickering-Beach Museum, at 501 West Main Street.

Led by US Coast Guard Auxiliary Representative Bruce Chamberlain, this demonstration will show visitors the vast array of knots for maritime use and let them try their hand at some of the most commonly used knots.

Bruce Chamberlain has spent his life around boats, and growing up, his first major purchase was an outboard motor to power his row boat at the age of 10. A native of Baldwinsville, Chamberlain was a Boy Scout and later a camp counselor in Lake Placid, where he taught knot tying along with other camp activities. He graduated from the Maritime College at Fort Schuyler, NY with a degree in Marine Engineering and as a commissioned officer in the Navy Reserve. He also possesses a Coast Guard 3rd Assistant Engineer license for any horsepower, steam or diesel, upon “any seas.”

Chamberlain spent his most of his career in the pump business, specializing for a short time in Nuclear Filtration, before opening his own business in engineering product sales, as well as a car wash. Following in his father’s footsteps, he joined the US Coast Guard Auxiliary in 2007, and he continues to work with the Coast Guard and the Knights of Columbus today.

The 2022 Sackets Harbor Traditional Artisan series is sponsored by the Village of Sackets Harbor. The goal of the series is to showcase the skills and expertise of area artisans and give modern audiences a glimpse into how these craftspeople performed complex work in a simpler time. The series will continue on Saturday, Aug 20, with a demonstration on Marlin Spike Seamanship, and on Saturday, Sept 24, with a demonstration on Traditional Soap Making.

For more information on any of the demonstrations, please contact the Sackets Harbor Visitor Center at 315-646-2321.