The Onrust has been launched.  The following text is from New Netherland Routes, Inc. President Don Rittner at the ceremony at the Mabee Farm.

Don Rittner, President New Netherland Routes, Inc.

Remarks at Onrust Launch on May 20, 2009

Welcome to the Onrust Project Everyone

I have a few thanks I want to make before we launch the Onrust into the Mohawk River.

When Greta Wagle and I decided to build the Onrust in 2005 we had no money, no people, and no place to build.  All we had was a dream.  Behind me is proof that dreams come true.

In 2006, we hired Gerald De Weerdt, a ship architect from the Netherlands to design the Onrust replica and in May of 2006 Greta and I sat with a small table and a few brochures here at a Mabee Farm Event looking for volunteers and money to start our project. Pat Barret, the Mabee Farm manager suggested that we might find a volunteer or two.

Within five minutes, Princetown resident George Bowdish approached me and asked if we needed someone who could cut wood for the project. He had a portable sawmill, and, oh yeah, he had a friend who would help too.

George Bowdish and Gerry Bobar and their wives Debbie and Linda have been the anchors for this project ever since. More than 250 volunteers have followed, many of them here today, and within three years built what you see here - the Onrust - a replica of the first ship built in New York State in 1614.

This has been a long journey and so many people and organizations have helped us along the way.  So many that if I named them all today our launch would have to be postponed till tomorrow. 

However there are some we would like to publicly thank:  Lyn Gordon, Secretary of New Netherland Routes; Colonie Town Historian Kevin Franklin; Ed Reilly, president of the Schenectady County Historical Society; Gary and Kim Mabee, and Merrit, Pat, Mike, and John here at the Mabee Farm; Steve Tomosone, Rotterdam Town supervisor; Mayor Stratton and Chief of Staff Sharon Jordan of the City of Schenectady, to name a few.

Our volunteers over the last couple of months must be acknowledged because we would never have made it without them.

Our sincerest thanks go to

Adrian Bradshaw

Al Van Sleet

Bill Stoddard

Bob Mastey

Brian Washburn

Carol Weatherwax

Charlie Long

Dale Rice

Dan Grzybowski

Dan Washburn

Dave and Janet Walz

Dave Butler

Dave Nilson

Dick Williams

Don Early

Don Orr

Don Richard

Dusty Rhoades

Gary Mabee

George and Debbie Bowdish

Gerry, Linda and Aaron Bobar

Gerard Kalemba

Gordon Endries

Hauk Stone

Henry Throne

Henry Polgreen

Howard Van Dusen

Jim Bedard

Jim Reilly

Jim Ryan

Jim Schreiner

Jim Williamsen

Joe, Donna, and Mary Repicky

John Bruening

John Reek

Jon Prasek

Karen and Andy Hess

Ken Spooner

Kent Stevens

Ken Mazur

Lance Latant

Mark and Barbara Turpin

Marty Bannan

Mike Doraby

Myron Barley

Nancy Bedard

Nancy Papish

Paul Sokolov

Peter Tobiessen

Richard Leister

Stan Lee

Steve Lomnes

Suzanna Van Schoon haven

Tim Rice

Tom and Linda Porter

Tom Palamatier

Tony Delavecchio

Tony Kokocki

William Kolbe

Will Van Dorp

Win Bigalow

I probably missed a few but there will be a book in the future about the project.

Moreover, make no mistake about it.  Without the sweat and raw perseverance and unselfish and unbounded energy of our project director Greta Wagle, who worked 14 hours a day seven days week, this project would never have been completed. Greta makes the Energizer Bunny look like a Ford Pinto in the slow lane.

We wanted this project to be a public project and our initial funding came from individuals like Helen McCary, Henry Polgreen, Tom and Linda Porter, Bill and Elka Wagle, Peter Hess, Walter Robb, Walter Vanderwalle and more than 200 others who took part in our adopt a piece of the Onrust fund raising program. Local foundations like the Broughton Foundation, GE Elfin Community Foundation and GE match, Wright Foundation, Schenectady Heritage Foundation, along with our local legislators Senator Hugh Farley, and Assemblymen James Tedesco and Paul Tonko also contributed much needed cash for the project.

Most of the wood you see on this ship was donated locally by people and organizations such as Cal Welch, Sisters of St Joseph, Albany Rural Cemetery, Oakwood Cemetery, and so many others. 99% of this ship is locally grown white oak.

So many organizations have partnered with us so that today’s events could happen.  Just to prepare this launch we thank Frank DelGallo, Dan Verklier, Joe Merli, Ed Zemeck and Prize Construction, Peter Hess, Joe Westervelt and Albany Steel, Jim Burhmaster, Parker Hose and Frank Murken Products, Bill Hubert and the Scarano Boat Yard, Bill Scheib and Burt Crane, the Andersen’s Al and John at Andersen Boat Transport.

Commissioner Carmella Mantello of the Canal Corporation and Dave Raylinksy and the rest of the great people from that agency have gone out of their way to help us in today’s launch including escorting us to Lock 9 where we will finish the ship.

This is a 3 million dollar project and much of that money was donated not just locally but also by others including the Dutch Government, so special thanks to the Dutch Consulate in New York City, Consul General Hugo Gajus Scheltema and his team.

And just when you thought there was no such thing as Angels along comes Tara Sullivan from the NYS Quadricentennial Commission who has come to our rescue and spent countless hours obtaining much needed money to finish the project. We could not have finished this project without her.

We launch the Onrust today and look forward to our mission which for the next 30 plus years is to teach the important contributions that the 17th century Dutch played in shaping American society today.

We are still not quite done in building the ship.  For the next two weeks, master rigger Courtney Anderson will be putting the sails and rigging on our ship getting it ready for its maiden voyage to New York City at the end of the month to participate in River Day.  We hope to be leading the parade as hundreds of boats celebrate the 400th anniversary of Hudson, Champlain and Fulton as we sail up to Albany beginning on June 6th.  We hope all of you will welcome us home during that time.

Until then I want to thank everyone who was involved in making this dream come true.  Greta and I are overwhelmed by your support and dedication to this project. Greta will now baptize the ship with some good Belgian beer!!!

Thank you All.

Special thanks to the NYS Canal Corporation.  Their assistance with tug and barge allowed us to get the mast, sprits, and ballast onboard easily and escorted us to Lock 9 where we will finish the ship.