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| | The Colgate Comedy Hour on March 6, 1955. Photo credit: Life Magazine |
Happy Spring! The SS United States Conservancy is emerging from winter with renewed energy and resolve. Our redevelopment partners continue to press forward with their planning, and we look forward to sharing details with you as soon as we possibly can. While many challenges loom - converting the iconic liner into a spectacular mixed-use museum and development complex is a daunting undertaking - we continue to move closer to saving the SS United States.
During this planning phase, we're focusing our efforts on building our curatorial programs and archives: thank you to everyone who has contributed material to our collections! We're also developing some exciting outreach efforts to be unveiled this spring: stay tuned for original music inspired by the SS United States, exciting contests, and spring membership events.
We're also working hard to keep the SS United States in the public eye: Recently BBC News explored the question, "What do you do with an old ocean liner?" Needless to say, that's a question we know how to answer! The article pointed out that "America's Flagship" may have peeling paint, but she remains structurally sound and full of potential.
Closer to home, David Warner, a Philly Metro columnist, wrote a piece titled, "A Ship that Holds a Dream." He suggested that "20-somethings" remain largely unaware of the ship's extraordinary history. The Conservancy is determined to meet this challenge and will be revving up its social media outreach. Warner ends his piece about the ship by acknowledging that "the romance of it all might sing to you." Indeed, we can state with certainty that the SS United States has that effect!
Read these stories and more, below. And above all else, thank you so much for continuing to support our work!
We're saving the SS United States and working to ensure
her legacy endures and inspires. Join us!
Also in this Issue:
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 It's That Time of Year...
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In the Northern Hemisphere, it's time to "think Spring."
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...to renew your tax-deductible membership with the Conservancy. Or, if you're not a member, consider signing up today or give the gift of membership at http://www.ssusc.org/give-and-join/donate/. Your continued support helps to keep America's Flagship from an unhappy fate.
Not sure when your membership is up for renewal? We're in the process of notifying those supporters whose memberships have expired. Want to find out now? Email us with your name and address and we'll look that up for you!
The Conservancy would like to thank the following supporters for their memberships at the Captain's Quarters Supporter level. (Remember: Each level of membership has special benefits. Members at the Captain's Quarters level and above are eligible for a special limited tour of the ship.) Victoria Jeffress Hutchins - $1,000
Donald "Chip" Mack Jr. - $1,000
John Scholes - $1,000 We'd also like to thank Richard Norberg for his generous membership renewal in honor of his late father, Clarence G. Norberg, a marine engineer who helped design the radar and electrical systems of the Big U. The Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and donations to the organization are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Does your employer sponsor a matching gift program? Let us know so we can apply to the program and have your gift matched! Many companies will match your donation dollar-for-dollar, thus doubling your gift and making it reach twice as far! |
America's Flagship in the News
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Former SS United States first assistant and chief executive engineer Nick Landiak, courtesy of the Landiak family.
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Read how former SS United States senior engineering officer Nick Landiak, now a spry nonagenarian, transitioned his skills to rebuild Penn State University's internal utility systems! More about the article, titled "For engineer, Penn State was another big ship," can be found here.
Reporter Duncan Smith's BBC News: England article "What do you do with an old ocean liner?" features four great remaining ocean liners, including our great Lady-in-waiting, the SS United States. Read more here.
What does Metro Philadelphia's David Warner discover when he takes an informal poll? Find out here in "A ship that holds a dream."
Oceanliners Magazine takes a look back 52 years ago this month at the most famous "passenger" to travel via the SS United States. Read more here.
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The Legacy Project: Treasures from the Hold
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Dolores Mihalko with her mother and brother prior to their June 1959 voyage.
Photo courtesy of Dolores Mihalko.
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After watching "America's dreamship - the story of United States (2012), a time journey by Steafan Aust" on Germany's TV news channel N24, Dolores Mihalko sent us this photo of her standing in front of the Big U with her mother and brother prior to their voyage.
She writes: "It was in June 1959 that my mom, my brother and I went to New York on the United States Lines. I remember my mom and brother seasick while I had a great time in the Kindergarden."
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Photo courtesy of F. Samuel Bauer.
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Supporter F. Samuel Bauer shares a fascinating "insider's view" of his numerous visits to the SS United States while she was laid up in Virginia, prior to being towed to Turkey for asbestos removal. Read his captivating story from our Legacy Project here.
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Inspired by the SS United States
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Drawing by Philadelphia artist David Krevlolin.
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David Krevolin is a Philadelphia sculptor who loves to draw. Although his primary focus is figures, he also is inspired by the Philadelphia landscape. With the rich mixture of historic buildings, mills, factories and homes, David considers it "a form of visual archaeology with no digging required."
He writes: "As these relics decay one begins to see how they were built. The decaying ornamentation, facades and rusting metal create a feel for how these inanimate structures have an organic life cycle. They are born/built, they live/are inhabited and used, and as they grow old they slowly die/beautifully decay. This life cycle of a city is mirrored in the story of the ship."
David compared the popularity, decline and current resurgence of the city with that of the ship, and believes that the SS United States can get a renewed life as well. "The ship is a bridge from our glory days past and has survived until Philadelphia has seen new days of prosperity. It sits rusting away strangely out of place in between the new landscape of Philadelphia's present IKEA and other big box store counterparts and Philadelphia's older dwindling piers and loading docks that are still used this day. How could you not be inspired by this big rusty ship!"
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Painting by Philadelphia artist David Krevolin.
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Dates in SS United States History
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March 6, 1955: NBC broadcasts the "Colgate Comedy Hour" live from the SS United States, docked in New York. The episode was hosted by Gordon MacRae and featured acts by Jaye P. Morgan and the Gabor sisters.
March 7, 1963: The "Mona Lisa" returns to France aboard the United States, after a brief American museum tour. The painting is stored in a stateroom during the voyage, not in the cargo hold.
March 12, 1952: Harry Manning is named first captain of the United States.
March 12, 1992: The SS United States Preservation Society, precursor to the Conservancy, is founded.
March 13, 1946: The United States Lines board approves "Design 12201" (later the SS United States) for construction, assuming the US Maritime Commission grants an acceptable construction subsidy.
March 16, 1968: American murder suspect William A. Maynard is extradited to the United States from Germany on board the SS United States.
March 24, 1932: The Grace liner SS Santa Rosa is launched. The Gibbs-designed Santa Rosa debuted the unique "Sampan" funnel design later used on the SS United States.
March 26, 1946: General John Franklin of United States Lines formally requests a construction subsidy for "Design 12201" from the US Maritime Commission.
March 30, 1961: Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson departs on the SS United States for a tour of Europe and the Holy Land.
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Help spread awareness of America's Flagship.
Thanks to your support, we have almost 13,000 followers on our
Facebook page! Remember to follow us on the following social media platforms, and encourage your friends, colleagues and family members to do the same!
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SS United States Conservancy
P.O. Box 32115
Washington, DC 20007
(888)-488-7787
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