Iconic Mattapoisett swordfish weathervane celebrated at new exhibit
The Mattapoisett Museum introduced its new exhibit showing Mattapoisett's original Swordfish weathervane on Thursday, July 9. Photos by Mari Huglin
The swordfish is stored in the musuem carriage house. 
A note was found inside the weathervane and three different versions of the note are on display. 
The swordfish is one of the icons and mascots of Mattapoisett. 
Recipes for swordfish are also on display. 
Many residents who were invovled with swordfish fishing stood up and spoke at the event. 
Newspaper clips are on display. 
One group of Mattapoisett residents restored the weathervane in the 70s. Image source: Phil Mello. 
Many residents were apart of restoring the fish. Image source: Phil Mello. 
Planes were once used to spot swordfish. Image source: Phil Mello. 
Residents stand with the restored swordfish in the 70s. Image source: Phil Mello. 
Swordfish were hunted with harpoons. The harpooners would stand out on decks. Image source: Phil Mello. 
Some swordfish were very large. Image source: Phil Mello. 
A fisher gets ready to harpoon a swordfish. Image source: Phil Mello. 
The original swordfish weathervane. Image source: Phil Mello. 
The eye of the original weatervane. Image source: Phil Mello.
The Mattapoisett Museum introduced its new exhibit showing Mattapoisett's original Swordfish weathervane on Thursday, July 9. Photos by Mari Huglin
The swordfish is stored in the musuem carriage house.
A note was found inside the weathervane and three different versions of the note are on display.
The swordfish is one of the icons and mascots of Mattapoisett.
Recipes for swordfish are also on display.
Many residents who were invovled with swordfish fishing stood up and spoke at the event.
Newspaper clips are on display.
One group of Mattapoisett residents restored the weathervane in the 70s. Image source: Phil Mello.
Many residents were apart of restoring the fish. Image source: Phil Mello.
Planes were once used to spot swordfish. Image source: Phil Mello.
Residents stand with the restored swordfish in the 70s. Image source: Phil Mello.
Swordfish were hunted with harpoons. The harpooners would stand out on decks. Image source: Phil Mello.
Some swordfish were very large. Image source: Phil Mello.
A fisher gets ready to harpoon a swordfish. Image source: Phil Mello.
The original swordfish weathervane. Image source: Phil Mello.
The eye of the original weatervane. Image source: Phil Mello.
MATTAPOISETT — Stand aside Salty the Seahorse, the other Mattapoisett mascot has returned with its sword drawn.
On Thursday, July 9 the Mattapoisett Museum opened its doors to a new exhibit focused on a historic swordfish weathervane that has decorated the town wharf since 1945 with around 110 people in attendance.
The museum will display the restored, original swordfish weathervane alongside an exhibit celebrating its history and the history of swordfish fishing in Mattapoisett.
The Mattapoisett Museum curator Connor Gaudet said he thinks the weathervane was made in the 1920s and donated to the town in 1945.
In 2022, Select Board member Jodi Bauer applied for a grant for the weathervane to be restored and placed in the museum. Finally, this year the museum was able to repair and display it.
Gaudet said the weathervane and exhibit are so important to the town because many residents associate the swordfish with Mattapoisett.
“It's kind of the summer symbol because it usually came down in the fall and went back up around Memorial Day so it [was] a symbol of the summer coming,” Gaudet said.
The curator said he liked going through area newspapers and finding photos and stories of the weathervane to add to the exhibit.
He also took joy in transcribing a note that was found inside the swordfish giving the note more context through investigation.
“It was just fun doing that kind of historical detective work,” Gaudet said.
Phil Mello was one of the original residents involved with restoring the weathervane in the 70s. He and some of his friends were involved with fishing but also took an interest in the weathervane.
Mello said the exhibit was exciting because it shows the history of the swordfish weathervane and how important fishing was to Mattapoisett. He reminisced about being a kid and seeing swordfishermen on the wharf.
“It's showing the history of the swordfish weathervane in town here and that swordfishing happened a lot in this town,” Mello said.
He said he hopes many visitors learn about the history and enjoy it.
Shirley Clark is the widow of swordfisherman John Clark. Her family donated many images and objects to the museum for the exhibit.
She said her husband loved fishing and swordfish in general and how he also got involved with the restoration of the weathervane.
Clark said she is happy to see the weathervane restored where people can see it since it has been missing for a while.
“So many people are missing the weathervane down at the dock,” Clark said.
Gaudet said a new swordfish weathervane will be placed on the wharf soon and hopes people will visit the exhibit while it lasts.
“I hope people enjoy the exhibit and the twists and turns of history,” Gaudet said.
The exhibit will be on display for two years. The Mattapoisett Museum is located at 5 Church Street and is open from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday or by appointment.
