Sackville used to be known as a prominent ship building community in the 1800s. The Golden Age of Sail is an important part of Sackville's history.

The shipbuilding records show that there were three shipyards owned by three shipbuilding families - Boultenhouse, Purdy, and Dixon. There were 160 vessels that were launched from these shipyards between 1821 and 1898.

The sailing vessels built here were schooners, brigantines, barques, and brigs. Fifteen full rigged ships were built here, the largest was 1468 ton Sarah Dixon launched from the Dixon shipyard.

Brigs were the most common kind of sailing vessels that were built in Sackville. A brig has two masts which are square rigged.