It was 135 years ago when Ahira Kelley moved from Harwich to Fairhaven, Massachusetts to start a waterside business in the whaling capital of the world. He bought the old South Wharf in Fairhaven, MA in 1864, one of the oldest in America, and started a cod fishing business. The cod was unloaded from family schooners, dried on racks, then salted and sold all over the New Bedford area. Ahira’s hands-on, do-it-yourself attitude may have contributed to his untimely death at the age of 54 when he slipped while shingling a building in the yard and fell to his death.

Upon the death of Ahira, his son David N. Kelley took over the business. David N. proved to be a rugged seaman of varied interests and talents. By the early 1900’s, he shifted the emphasis of the shipyard from commercial fishing to repair and storage of yachting vessels. He worked on the waterfront for more than 70 years until he died at the age of 86, at which time his son, David L. Kelley, took over the business. It wouldn’t be long before David L. would expand the family business even further.

David L., the third generation of the Kelley family, had first entered the business to help his father during the first part of the 20th century, at which time he became interested in hydroplane racing. Because he had a brilliant insight that hydroplane racing was fast becoming an increasingly popular sport, he designed and built “Baby Whale” hydroplane racing boats under the guidance of his knowledgeable father.

Built in the 1920’s for hydroplane racing fans all over the United States and other parts of the world (including such places as South America, South Africa, Panama, China, Japan, Australia and other parts of Europe), Baby Whales hulls ranged in size, weight, price, and speed. All were produced with guaranteed quality construction. Baby Whales were shipped all over the country until the early 1930’s, when demand for the boats ended. Despite the economical effects of the Great Depression, D.L. Kelley saw to it that the shipyard would continue to prosper by diversifying more toward the yachting business.

D.L. Kelley’s son, F. Standish Kelley, was attending Colby College when the great hurricane of 38’ blew throughout New England. After the devastation, he left Colby to help rebuild and repair the shipyard. Although he never returned to Colby, his education didn’t cease. He took drafting courses at MIT and, by the onset of the WWII years, he was using his drafting knowledge and skill to redesign and retrofit local boats into the much-needed minesweepers for the U.S. Navy. The war years not only kept the shipyard successfully employed but it enabled the shipyard to build a crew more efficient than ever in all phases of vessel construction, thereby aiding in its success as a capable repair yard.

F. Standish further expanded the business throughout the mid-1900’s by pursuing a Texaco oil and Detroit Diesel dealership.

Since New Bedford was the No. 1 area in New England for fishing vessels during the 60’s and 70’s, the shipyard’s success was mainly attributed to the expert repair and maintenance of fishing craft. At that time, they serviced between 400 and 500 commercial vessels until the fishing industry began to wane. By the 80’s, workmen at the shipyard were painting and overhauling the New Bedford fishing fleet and various sailing yachts. They also began servicing the Hyannis Hi-Line fleet, which provides harbor tours to the Vineyard. Capt. John’s fleet, the Dolphin fleet, and the Provincetown fleet have all reaped the benefits of what this multi-functional shipyard has had to offer in the realm of maintenance and repair of large, fleet-type, commercial vessels.