Longtime Duxbury resident and Harbormaster Don Beers would rather be nowhere else than along the shores of our picturesque town.  A lifetime lover of the beach and seas, Beers has served as harbormaster for over thirty years. A fraternal twin, his brother Dick, a fisherman, lives next door and his brother David is a 30-year veteran of the Duxbury Fire Department. We talked with Beers about a typical day at work and what goes in to keeping our beaches safe for all.

My wife Amy and I have lived in Duxbury for 34 years. I was appointed as assistant harbormaster in 1978 while I finished up my education at Northeastern University. I was appointed harbormaster (supposedly the youngest ever in the state) in 1980. 

What is your professional background?

I grew up in Michigan and Marshfield and wanted to be an agent with the Federal Fish and Wildlife as a game warden. After graduating high school in Marshfield, I went to school in Maine studying fish and wildlife law enforcement and management. I transferred to Northeastern University where I finished up my degree. I worked two years as an assistant harbormaster for the department while I finished up that degree. My training as an assistant harbormaster under Harbormaster Manuel Oliver was invaluable. The harbormaster job back then was not very glamorous, you were on your own most of the time, no back up or support, no marine electronics, only a compass, local knowledge and experience.

When did you decide to become a harbormaster?

I met my first harbormaster in Marshfield. I was a teenage shellfisherman digging the great flats of the South River. He kept a close eye on me. I recognized his abilities, talents and interpersonal resources that made him “the harbormaster.” You had to respect the harbormaster, because the position was more than the authority, but the guy who would likely pull you out of the water.   

Can you describe a typical day at work for you?

It’s routine. I always get to work one hour before my scheduled shift at approximately 6 a.m. The department’s Executive Officer Jake Emerson does the same on opposing shifts. We check and prepare and assign all the department equipment for that day’s operation. The morning staff roll call is scheduled 15 minutes before each staggered shift for operative assignments. We will then routinely move into our responsibilities, tasks and patrols of the shore and waterways as required. Emergencies or calls for assistance are managed as they come in or are found. At the end of my day, approximately 4 p.m., I attend the afternoon staff roll call. Each day the (on call) officer assignment is scheduled as support for (on duty) staff.    

Does the harbormaster department interact with the Coast Guard?

In Duxbury, there is a special agreement with the US Coast Guard and Town of Duxbury. Certain officers, within the harbormaster department, act as agents for the US Coast Guard to enforce security zones and port security. These officers are the Executive Officer Jake Emerson, Operations Officer Mike Pforr and myself. We receive special training as part of this authority. We interact with the US Coast Guard in most search and rescue missions and certain marine law enforcement events. Duxbury’s waterways are territorial waters of the United States that the US Coast Guard has jurisdiction and authority over. The closest year round USCG station is Point Allerton (Hull) with a seasonal station in Scituate during the peak season. Our waters also belong to the Commonwealth that also exercises its authority. Duxbury has approximately 32 miles of shoreline and 18 square miles of waterways. Because of distance and emergency response times, we seldom rely on the US Coast Guard. We work very closely with our neighboring harbormaster departments.  

What types of challenges does each new season bring?

The community enables the numerous town departments to be prepared for each new peak season. A lot of effort goes into preparing, repairing and maintaining shore facilities, piers, floats, and aids to navigation, equipment and landings. The Duxbury Beach Reservation moves into the beach region in the spring with its contractors to clean up and repair the beach after its winter exposure. The endangered species group heads out before April 1 to delineate and protect endangered species habitat that enables us to access and enjoy the beach in their presence. And if we’re lucky, we don’t get a spring coastal storm over the high course tides that would undo all our preparations.   

Are you busy during the winter months?

The winter months can be very challenging. Coastal access in the off-season has changed over my tenure as harbormaster. The bay, shore and beach are accessed year round (every day) by hunters, fishermen (recreational and commercial), shell fishermen (recreational, commercial), oystermen, kayakers, sailors, rowers and lots more. The community encourages it. The town has a lot to share. With this we have a responsibility to make it safe. The off-season is the time we need to be on our toes every minute, for the safety of the public. In most off-season emergencies, minutes count.   

What is your favorite part of your job?

Job diversity. Depending on the day, season or tasks at hand my job can be very different every day. Other than my law enforcement and public safety responsibilities, I (we) take on many other department tasks, like maintaining equipment and facilities, administration functions, personnel administration, training, education, public relations, meetings, ecetera. I enjoy nothing more than serving my community in any capacity. It’s what drives me every day.  

Where is your favorite spot in town?

“Duxbury” is my favorite spot in the world. Rarely do I leave the town. It’s very important to me and to the town that I’m close and available. I’ve always felt very fortunate to work as harbormaster for this community and live and bring my family up here. My wife and I have three sons, my oldest, Josh, 28, who lives in Duxbury with his wife Caroline, Adam, 23, who lives in South Boston, and Jake, 27, who lives in Natick. There may be places different than Duxbury, but certainly not better.