Tender Man Re-Visits Lilac
uscg photo
lilac preservation project
by alex roux for lilac preservation project
On 2 August 2021, the Lilac Preservation Project welcomed E. Frank “Willy” Williams back on board his old ship to celebrate his 90th birthday and honor his service to the 1933 lighthouse tender in which he served from 1971–72. At the time Willy served aboard Lilac, the vessel was the oldest ship in the Coast Guard fleet and still running on her reciprocating steam engines. At the same time, he also served as Group Engineer for Lilac Base Gloucester in Gloucester City, NJ, overseeing maintenance of the 40-foot Coast Guard vessels and taking responsibility for systems in the base buildings. He was present for Lilac’s decommissioning there in 1972. Having been through the decommissioning of her sister ship Violet ten years before, he was certain the ship would be swarmed with scavengers, so he removed and saved Lilac’s builder’s plate, hoping it might be returned one day if the ship were preserved. Some years ago, he learned of the work our organization is doing to restore the Chief E. Frank “Willy” Williams takes a seat on Lilac’s bridge during his visit. ship and returned the plate to us. As his 90th birthday was approaching, he shared with his family that seeing Lilac again was on his bucket list, so his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson took him on a road trip to fulfill this wish. He got to see the builder’s plate back on the bulkhead, where it belongs. We hope for his 100th birthday, he will get to see Lilac steaming again. Willy’s visit was documented on video and will be added to the oral histories and video interviews we continue to collect and make available online. Visit us online at www.lilacpreservationproject.org, and click on “Learn” and then “Tender Men’s Tales” USCG Cutter Lilac decommis- to watch some of the interviews we have been collecting. (LPP, 56 Daniel Low Terrace, Staten sioning ceremony with “Willy” Island, NY 10301; the Lilac’s home berth is at Hudson River Parks Pier 25 in New York City.) —Mary Hasbritt, Museum Director and President, Lilac Preservation Project Williams in foreground.
Giclée print by visual historian Karen Rinaldo Depicts Sea Witch under full sail, driven by the trade winds. Ship’s history is included.
Limited Edition - Numbered and Signed - 24” x 18” Print Ready for aming
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SEA HISTORY 176, AUTUMN 2021 49