The Falls of Clyde ship

[Ron Whitfield]

As if things weren't bad enuf!

The Bishop Museum just seems to be unable or unwilling to do the right thing concerning the ship, but this is just bizzare - http://honoluluweekly.com/diary/2009...endowment-cash

[Ron Whitfield]

Update - some good, some bad

www.honoluluweekly.com/feature/2009/04/the-unsinkable-falls-of-clyde/
Just loved the part telling how some of those that ran off with her historic and needed appointments did so simply to sell them quick..., _______ ___________ fill in the blanks...

[Frankie's Market]

Re: The Falls of Clyde ship

Here is story about another old ship (WWII vintage, to be exact) that is about to be scuttled: The Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg.



http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...3pPaAD98DADTO0

Interestingly, in an earlier story about the Vandenberg, there was a couple of men who, at first, was against the sinking. But later, after a rational and practical consideration of the situation, did the sensible thing and got behind the effort to turn the ship into a reef off the Florida coast.

http://www.cfnews13.com/Entertainmen...andenberg.html

Some seamen in Brevard County want to sink a historic ship once based in Port Canaveral.

The Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg once brought home World War II soldiers from France but now is destined from the bottom of the ocean to become a playground for divers.

There is Mack Monroe, veteran shipman from Patrick Air Force Base who first fought to keep the USS Vandenberg afloat but now is fighting to sink it.

********************

Pat Utecht from Satellite Beach said, "So, when I heard about the Ark program and what was destined for the Vandenberg, my first reaction was, oh gee wasn't there something better?"

A veteran sailor, Utecht was first worried that sinking the ship would drown the ships historic memory.

"Then I went back and said, no the life of the ship will continue in the minds of many people for a long, long time," Utecht said.

Those guys "get it." With death comes new life. Having outlived its usefulness as an oceangoing vessel, the Vandenberg will continue to serve a useful purpose by being turned into an artificial reef and an underwater attraction for divers. They didn't let their personal attachment blind them to the reality that the Vandenberg was better off being an undersea asset rather than a floating financial burden for future generations.

[Ron Whitfield]

Terrible analogy

...no the life of the ship will continue in the minds of many people for a long, long time," Utecht said.

Those guys "get it." With death comes new life. Having outlived its usefulness as an oceangoing vessel, the Vandenberg will continue to serve a useful purpose by being turned into an artificial reef and an underwater attraction for divers. They didn't let their personal attachment blind them to the reality that the Vandenberg was better off being an undersea asset rather than a floating financial burden for future generations.

What a blatant crock! Few to none ever knew of the Vandenberg's relatively recent being or history, and it has virtually nothing close to the history and inportance that the FOC maintains.
The sinking of a vessel will end any worthwhile thought and memory of it, and the FOC deserves much much better. It has immeasurable history just to Hawaii alone and can be better utilized to showcase these facts than was done when she was in faily good condition and use. That she hasn't been allowed to fully for the last few decades is at the feet of Bishop Museum.
There isn't another example of the Falls in the entire world. She's the epitome of sailing vessels of her kind and day. For better or for worse, where would Hawaii be today if not for these grand vessels? My unqualified appreciation for this ship was magnified into resonance when I had the good fortune to realize a dream of working on her, and everyone else would become much more educated and appreciative of this ship should they get up close and personal with her. And doing so at the bottom of the ocean ain't it!
This unbridled willingness to throw away tangible pieces of history away is always beyond my understanding and has been proven totally unreasonable.

[salmoned]

Re: The Falls of Clyde ship

Say what? The sinking of the Titanic, the Lusitania, the Bismark, to just name a few, have hardly moved those ships out of minds and into the dusty annals of unremembered history. If something is worth remembering, there is no need for a memorial of it. A memorial is 'needed' only when of dubious value.

[Barry]

Re: The Falls of Clyde ship

At the Pierhead in Liverpool we have a memorial. Not only for the ships but for the valiant people who went down with them.

[Ron Whitfield]

Spare a quarter?

The Friends Of The FOC are asking for volunteer workers, about to get restorations under way, and a starting fund raiser which just might 'nickel and dime' it's way to success - www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090615/NEWS01/906150331/Bailing+out+the+historic+Falls+of+Clyde

[buzz1941]

Re: The Falls of Clyde ship

Sinking and scuttling are two different things with the same result.

[Walkoff Balk]

Falls of Clyde delisted from historic register | Honolulu Star-Advertiser (staradvertiser.com)

Aarrghh?