ration." The museum would also include the now-bare navigation bridge. "We also plan to show what the ship would have looked like as a troop carrier," even though it was never used for that purpose, Gibbs said. One of those rooting for the renovation project to succeed is Robert Sturm, 79, of Long Island, New York, who has been working on a book abo ut the ship for five years. He served in the United States as an engineer from 1957 until 1959 at the peak of transAdamic ship travel. "It was a marvel of naval architecture and marine engineering," he said. "It was a record holder. It was virtually fireproof, which was unusual for ships of d ia l day. It was a very stab le ship; it had no mechanical stabilizers, yet it traveled very smoothly. It was a very reliable ship in that it was always punctual in its arrivals. It was very popular with the American traveling public." Sturm added that "it had other safety features as well: the subdivis ion of the hull into watertight compartments and the installation of firescreen doors, which co uld be remotely operated from the bridge to co ntai n any fire. To my knowledge, in the seventeen years the ship ran it never suffered a mechanical failure." "I think it's wo rth saving as an icon of American engineering, shipbuilding, and ship operation," Sturm said. Basi le added that the watertight doors could be opened and closed from controls o n the upper decks, to make the ship safer to operate and secure in an emergency situation. Also hoping for a happy ending for the United States is another Long Is lander, William King. As he was graduating from Cooper Unio n in Manhattan, King was hired to create a 1O-foot-by-25-foot Mercator map for the wall of the first-class smoking lounge. "It was my first jump into the big time," said King, 89, who went on to have a successful career as a sculptor. "It was asto unding to work on the ship, and it would be wonderful if they can save ir." ,!,
1he upper decks are gutted except for two aluminum bars. (bottom) SSUS Conservancy board member Susan Caccavale poses next to one of the two massive prope!Lers currently propped up on the upper deck. When the ship was built, the propellers were considered top secret by both Gibbs and the US Navy. Caccavale's mother led the engineering team that designed the propellers. 1he engine rooms are intact and one will be saved as a museum exhibit.
Bill Bleyer is a long-time reporter for the New York newspaper Newsday. He specializes in maritime issues, parks, and history. You can contact him at bill. bleyer@newsday.com.
To learn more about the SS United States Conservancy, the ship, and ways to get involved, visit their website at www.ssusc.org. SS United States Conservancy, POE 32115, Washington, DC 20007; Ph. 888 488-7787.
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SEA HISTORY 147, SUMMER 20 14