Once a proud steamer that, in her day, ferried millions to Catalina Island, S.S. Catalina continues to face an unknown future.
September 07, 2006
By Coty Dolores Miranda
ENSENADA, Mexico - S.S. Catalina is a sorry sight for any boat lover's eyes as she lists into the mud of Ensenada Harbor for yet another year.
Even more heartbreaking is the knowledge that this once-proud vessel, commissioned in 1924 by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley to ferry mainlanders
to his island of Catalina, holds the honor of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. She is also one of 1,100 California State
Historical Landmarks and is designated a City of Los Angeles Historical Cultural Monument.
But unlike the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum or the Mission San Fernando Rey, which share these accolades, Catalina carried 24 million passengers in
her heyday, and ferried more troops in World War II than any other military transport. Today, she is not only ignored, except by the raucous
population of hefty sea lions, seals and seagulls that inhabit her deteriorating hull.
A recent panga ride around the 302-foot-long, 52-foot wide vessel found much of the vessel's port railing stripped away, revealing a bizarre sight of
sea lions bellied up to the U-shaped wooden bar where passengers once gathered to sip c-cktails. She lists to port like a drunken sailor and at high
tide, her bow is nearly submerged in 30 feet of water.
Believe it or Not
The resulting despair from this head-shaking sight is offset by the continued optimism by various groups and individual supporters that the "Great
White Steamer" can yet be saved - a hope kept alive since 1997 when she began sinking after her last failed tenure as a dockside restaurant.
Richard McPherson, head of the Raising the S.S. Catalina Association, is one of those who still believes.
In July, McPherson, a salvage expert, shared his organization's vision with Los Angeles Yacht Club, offering his "four Rs" for Catalina: "Refloat her
and make her safe from scrapping; Repair her hull to make her safe for towing; Return her to California; and Restore her to her days of glory."
Before initiating his four-Rs, McPherson says the group is researching all claims on the vessel since she was moved to Ensenada in 1985. Then, the
group hopes to find her a California home.
"I don't want to wind up with her being re-floated without a place to come home to in California," said McPherson from his home in Laguna Nigel. "I
believe she can have a great future in the Port of San Diego, Long Beach or, most likely, Los Angeles."
Much of the future of S.S. Catalina depends not only on her supporters supplying the finances to save her, but also on the Mexican government,
specifically the state of Baja California, the city of Ensenada and the Port of Ensenada. To date, the entities have been cooperative; offering
numerous time extensions. A proposed marina scheduled for the site where the vessel now languishes has itself had delays - a boon for those hoping to
rescue her.
But that reprieve may be short-lived. Ensenada is looking at the two-phase Malecon Development Project, scheduled to get under way later this year.
Phase one involves land improvements along the waterway, including a new hotel and shopping center, but the larger phase two plans include the marina
proposal.
McPherson's family has had a 10-decade-long history with the city by the bay. His father and Dick Hussong, of the Hussong's Cantina dynasty, were
goodfriends, and when his father passed away, it was Hussong who took his ashes out to sea. In 1975, McPherson also was awarded a contract to remove
an ocean-going barge that was blocking the Ensenada Harbor entrance.
War of the Acronyms
Perhaps muddying the issue for Mexican officials has been what has at times seemed to be a war of the acronyms. In the last six years, the S.S.
Catalina Preservation Association (SSCPA), the S.S. Catalina Steamship Fund (SSCSF), the Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) and the Raising the
Catalina Association (RCA) have alternately cooperated and distanced themselves with and from one another.
In January, David Engholm of Coos Bay, Oregon and head of the SSCSF announced on his website that he and his group were retracting a prior endorsement
of the RCA and "affiliated organizations."
"I feel at this point, S.S. Catalina cannot be saved, taking in small monetary contributions from S.S. Catalina supporters/public," Engholm wrote in
his last posted Web site letter.
"We are not giving up efforts to save S.S. Catalina, but will be exploring many new avenues and are always open to ideas/input from the
supporters/public to achieve this goal."
Engholm did not reply to numerous phone calls or e-mails from The Log for further updates.
Phil Dockery, head of SSCPA, headquartered in Irvine, says he still believes the vessel can be saved.
His SSCPA group unsuccessfully worked to get the ship listed in the National Trust for Historic Preservation "America's 11 Most Endangered Historic
Places for 2006."
Dockery says the SSCPA also attempted to garner grants from organizations as disparate as Indian gaming to Microsoft, the William Wrigley Jr. Co. to
the Getty Foundation. The quest has so far been futile.
"Besides the difficulties caused by the location of the ship, the large individual investment required and the relatively limited return on tax credit
and PR (public relations) - as seen from the point of view of the organizations contacted, it all worked against our success in raising the capital
needed to save the Catalina," Dockery said. "While we know that there are always avenues yet to be explored, we remain hopeful that as long as
Catalina has not been scrapped or sent to the bottom, there remains a chance that she can be saved."
From a salvage professional's standpoint, the integrity of the steel plated, riveted-hulled vessel also offers hope.
"We did a pretty thorough examination on it two years ago; and the hull itself, I believe, would withstand the rigors of salvage," said Richard Barta
of Muldoon Marine Services of Long Beach. "[She's] well built. I think if the money can be found, she can still be saved."
Catalina holds fond memories of carefree summer voyages for numerous California residents. Dockery recalls visiting his grandparents on the island
when he was young, traveling to their summer home aboard Catalina.
"My grandparents had a summer home on the island, and until 1973, we spent summer vacation and numerous holidays there," Dockery said. "Our preferred
method of travel was Catalina, and many of my earliest memories are of that beloved ship and my adventures aboard her. I remember being lifted to the
top of the large lifejacket container on "A" Deck (promenade deck) by my uncles, and looking around the harbor basin in the early morning sun."
Hope Floats - and Sinks
Four years ago, Dockery brought film producer Ken Wales to Ensenada to see the vessel that Wales had hoped to help restore and include in the film
adaptation of his book, "Sea of Glory." The film focused on four chaplains aboard S.S. Dorchester during World War II. Hopes were raised that Catalina
might be saved through this interest, but the film studio underwent restructuring, and the project was shelved.
Another strong and fairly new supporter of the RCA is John Paul DeJoria, Chairman and Co-Founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems and Chairman and CEO of
Patron Tequila, who last year pledged his support and funding for part of the restoration once Catalina is safely back in California. His memories
motivate his involvement.
"We were very poor, but every summer my mother managed to take me and my brother to that magical island," DeJoria said. "We'd ride the trolley from
Echo Park to the beach, take a bus to San Pedro and boarded S.S. Catalina. Like most kids, we loved running and playing on her decks and believed her
to be the world's largest and most magnificent ocean liner taking us on a great adventure."
DeJoria is also helping the association locate people and organizations with claims on Catalina.
"Whether she can be made seaworthy is conjecture at this time, but I would like to see her in service, making her runs between the island and the
mainland," DeJoria said. However, if she can't be made seaworthy, S.S. Catalina has already been named a designated California Historical Landmark and
a City of Los Angeles Historical Monument; and can serve well as a museum and educational center for our youth."
Yet another enthusiastic supporter is Southern California icon and "King of the Surf Guitar" Dick Dale, who added a page on the quest to save S.S.
Catalina to his music Web site because of the associated memories of her and the island his family loved.
"My mom and dad - Fern and Jim Monsour, now passed - had a 38-foot Hunter mahogany cabin cruiser called Redhead II that we would cruise every weekend
and moor up in Cat harbor," Dale said. "I feel a part of Catalina from 1957 on. So, the incredible history of this gracious vessel should be preserved
and given credit for the history she created."
Can Catalina Be Resurrected?
Can S.S. Catalina rise from the muck to preserve her place in history? Will her supporters raise the needed funds and interest to bring her back to a
U.S. home berth? It remains to be seen as the Ensenada malecon begins their modernization plan - and the clock keeps ticking.
"Physically, if the money were available, the ship could still be saved, but money and the ship's location are the issues," Dockery said, adding that
the worse case scenario would be about $3 million just for raising, basic repairs, and transportation back to the United States.. "Because of the
ship's location in a foreign country, companies, corporations and philanthropic organizations are hesitant to commit the very large amounts that would
be needed. It's my personal belief that a wealthy individual was responsible for the ship when [she] was taken to Mexico, and only a wealthy,
philanthropically-minded individual will be able to bring [her] back."
Despite past issues, and even the pessimistic naysayers, McPherson also believes that Catalina's future can be as stellar as her past.
"There are many skeptics, McPherson said. "I don't blame them at all with the history of S.S. Catalina since she was taken out of everyday service,"
McPherson said. "But yes, I believe she can be saved. She should be saved."Cincodemayo - 9-13-2006 at 05:30 PM
It should be refitted as part of Catalina Island by the Wrigleys...after restoration it should be moored in front of the Casino at Catalina..
Many dive trips to Catalina and sailings from Newport Harbor!DENNIS - 9-13-2006 at 05:56 PM
Did the S.S. Catalina sail from Newport? I didn't know that.BajaNomad - 9-13-2006 at 08:27 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Cincodemayo
It should be refitted as part of Catalina Island by the Wrigleys...after restoration it should be moored in front of the Casino at Catalina..
Many dive trips to Catalina and sailings from Newport Harbor!
The business owners in Avalon seem to have
more interest in seeing the Catalina elsewhere - even the scrap heap - rather than have her back anywhere near them.
The Wrigleys have shown zero interest in being involved.
--
Doug
Hey!
Baja Bernie - 9-13-2006 at 08:32 PM
I featured this in my book, Bouncing Around Baja--most sad--and I think it will remain so.Taco de Baja - 9-14-2006 at 07:42 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Cincodemayo
It should be refitted as part of Catalina Island by the Wrigleys...after restoration it should be moored in front of the Casino at Catalina..
Many dive trips to Catalina and sailings from Newport Harbor!
Why not just sink it in front of the Casino at the dive park?
It would make a great reef and attract even more fish to the area.....Of course, some tourist would probably get stuck in the hull and die....But that
too would attract fish MyraW - 9-17-2006 at 02:55 PM
My husband "Wash" and our gang spent many summers in Catalina from 1947 to 1950 and up.
I loved the boat and wish it could be saved. Shame on the Wrigley's and the Catalina Island Co. for ignoring it all these years. MyraDENNIS - 9-17-2006 at 03:06 PM
I dont think Wrigley had much to do with it. In the 50's and 60's it was owned by a man named Mc'Cook. I went to school with his daughter in
Newport Beach. I believe it was always a concession, privatly owned. But, you are right, it is a shame and a waste.
Dennis
RIP SS Catalina
MrBillM - 9-19-2006 at 05:54 PM
It's time to give up this Nostalgia and move on. I, too, have many fond memories of the ship and Catalina Island itself from the 1950s and 1960s, but
it's just not coming back. The ship or the island. Nobody who has the resources to do anything is interested. The past is the past.
After a long hiatus, back in the late 80s I sailed over to Catalina (Avalon) and moored in the bay for a few days, taking my wife all over the
Island. She was ecstatic, never having been there. I was filled with a mix of emotions, remembering all of the things I'd seen as a boy, now long
gone. I haven't been back.
Bringing back that ship isn't going to bring back those days.
