SEARSPORT -- The town of Searsport has a rich maritime history, one that is now encapsulated forever thanks to an artistic new addition downtown.

Karen Kelley was born and raised in Searsport, a town whose history comes mostly from the nearby sea. Historians say the small town produced more shipmasters than any other town of its size in the world, a record that Kelley has now preserved for centuries to come.

"It just feels like we keep losing little pieces of who we are, and I wanted to make it permanent," said Kelley, who spearheaded an effort to add a sea captain statue to the town.

The captain, cast in bronze, was unveiled on Saturday in front of a crowd of community members. It now watches over Searsport's harbor to honor all of the town's shipmasters and their families.

"This day

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