The World's Last Surviving Whaleback, SS Meteor
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by Judirh Liebaert
ring Back the Whaleback", a slogan coined by rhe Superior Ship Acquisirion Comminee in rhe !are 1960s, launched a successful campaign to return SS Meteor to her birthplace in Wisconsin. Today, rhe same goal is shared by a growing number of historians and ship enthusiasrs who want to rerurn rhe lase remaining, non-submerged whaleback freighrer to a well-mainrained and preserved condirion. SS Meteor was launched ar Superio r, Wisconsin, in 1896 and chrisrened Frank Rockefeller. Designed by Caprain Alexan-
1936
carry coal and iron ore. Throughout her SS Meteor on Barker's Island today working career she changed hands and was refined three times-the last in 1942 '" when Cleveland Tankers, Inc. rebuilt her as a petroleum tanker and renamed her SS Meteor. She continued to sail the G reat Lakes until she went aground in Marquette, Michigan, in 1969. Cleveland Tankers offered Meteor to the City of Superior in the hopes that she their annual list of "Ten Most Endangered would be maintained as a maritime muse- Historic Properties. " This designation is um, and the volunteer efforts of the Supe- helping ro bring awareness of the ship's sirior Ship Acquisition Comminee brought gnificance and its plight beyond the comthe ship home. Operated by Superior Pu- munity to a state and national level. Last blic Museums, Inc., she is land-berthed September, the Jeffris Family Foundation at Barker's Island, just a few blocks from awarded SS Meteor a $5 0,000 challenge where she was launched. Since 1971 , tens grant. "The Duluth Superior Area Commuof thousands of visitors have routed her. ) nity Foundation responded with $8,000 in Nonetheless, time has raken its toll matching funds, leavi ng $42,000 yet to be 1 and the ship is in great need of repair and ¡/ aised. This growing interest and support restoration. A concerted effort is underway f the effort ro restore SS Meteor is encouto preserve her. An Hisroric Strucr!:!J"es Reaging, bur more help is desperarely neeport is the first step in this preservation 1 ed. Additional funding is being sought, project. 1his comprehensive study will I and SPM is actively planning public events examine rhe vessel's history, docume1it her that wiil raise further awareness. With 73 years of working service ascurrent condition, and outline a plan for .. repair and restoration. The HSR is costly tern and nearing 35 years in service as a and time consuming. To help defray the ~useum, Meteor now awaits the complericost, in 2003 the National Trusr for His- on of her legacy as a well-maintained histotoric Preservation awarded a Preservation ric property. Once her restoration is comServices Fund grant to start the funding 1. leted and future preservation secured, she effort. Ocher contributors followed incluill survive to share rhe story of her role ding the Wisconsin Coastal Management n Great Lakes shipping and shipbuilding, Program and the City of Superior. fher designer Alexander McDougall, and In 2004, The Wisconsin Trust for f the longest serving and last remaining Historic Preservation added SS Meteor to haleback in the world. 1. For more information about SS Meteor
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der McDougall and builr by his American Sreel Barge Company, SS Meteor is an example of rhe rechnically-innovative sreelhulled ships thar influenced shipbuilding and the rransporration of bulk cargoes on rhe Grear Lakes at the turn of the century. 1heir design marked an important step in the progression toward the 1,000-foot freighters sailing rhe Great Lakes today. Meteor, one of forty whalebacks built in the Twin Pons of Superior and Duluth (Minnesorn), was originally fated to
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nd how you can help, contact Superior ublic Museums, 306 East Second St., Superior, WT 54880. Ph. 715 334-5712; or isit www.superiorpublicmusuems.org.