BATH — “Less of a museum, and more of a living history and culture center,” is the way Matt Blazek, newly hired Educational Manager of Maine’s First Ship describes his new employer. Blazek was hired this month as the first professional program staff member for Maine’s First Ship, located in the Freight Shed, at 27 Commercial Street, in Bath.

Previously serving for more than two years in a volunteer status, Blazek’s new position allows him to focus on the organization’s educational goal of sharing the unique history of the Popham Colony (1607) and the building of the original Virginia as well as “new history” of the design and construction of the Virginia reproduction built in the Freight Shed in Bath and launched in 2022.

The mission of Maine’s First Ship is to excite students in elementary, middle, and high school as well as any group desiring to learn firsthand the history of Popham Colony and more importantly how a group of volunteers in Bath, Maine with much enthusiasm could create a reproduction of a ship built in the early 1600s, according to the release. Today, that ship, the Virginia, is available for cruises on the Kennebec River in the historic City of Ships, Bath.

Blazek’s journey to his position at Maine’s First Ship began on a sheep farm in Waldoboro where he grew up. In his early 20s, he raised Morgan Horses and traveled along the eastern seaboard and Canada as a competitive horse rider. He later studied English Literature and Theatre at Southern Maine Community College and University of Southern Maine.

Blazek returned to Midcoast with his wife and two children to work at various jobs including building wooden benches at the Lie-Nielsen Tool Works, in Warren. All the while his passion for history was growing. In 2020, Blazek founded the non-profit History Live North East (HLNE) and eventually branching out to include the Popham Colony in his presentations.

“Through HLNE, I learned how to navigate the world of history education inside and outside the classroom, working with teachers all over the State of Maine and into New Hampshire helping to bolster and enhance what they were teaching in the classroom,” said Blazek, in the news release..

Kirstie Truluck, Maine First Ship executive director, says her goal is to also bring this historical time to Midcoast students especially to make history come alive.

“I was raised in Massachusetts where we have Plymouth Rock,” said Truluck. “You can’t do much but look at the Rock which marks 1620 history while the Virginia allows us to stand on the deck of a reconstructed 17th century ship and actually sail down the Kennebec, the same river the original Virginia sailed in 1608 when the river was called the Sagadahoc.

“We are thrilled to welcome Matt to the First Ship crew,” said Truluck. “He will help us better serve our schools, and adult educational groups that have been reaching out to us as our profile grows and we are so grateful to the grants that are supporting our growth that allowed us to bring Matt.” 

To arrange a tour, classroom visit, presentation or for general information, please contact Matt Blazek at matt@mfship.org or call 207-443-4242.