Difference between revisions of "S.S. Catalina"
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<span style="color:#0066cc">''' ''Catalina | <span style="color:#0066cc">''' S. S. ''Catalina''</span> (#223907) (1924-1976)''', 285-foot steel-hulled ship built in San Pedro for Santa Catalina Island excursion service, the last and largest of the excursion ships built to serve the island. William Wrigley, Jr. commissioned her to be built at the Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Company at a cost of $1,000,000. Her original capacity was was 1,963 passengers, which was later increased to 2,197. All her lifeboats were housed on the lower deck, leaving more room for passengers on the top promenade deck. Known as the ‘Great White Steamer,’ the S.S. ''Catalina'' is said the have carried more people than any other ship in the history of her time. She made more than 9000 trips to the island, and carried more than 20 million passengers. She also transported over 800,000 troops in San Francisco during World War II. Both United States presidents Coolidge and Hoover are counted among her guests. | ||
S.S. ''Catalina'' was retired from Island service in 1976. The following year she was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and registered as California State Landmark No. 894, and City of Los Angeles Historical Cultural Monument No. 213. She was put up for auction in 1977, and purchased by Hymie Singer, a real estate agent who bought the ship as a Valentine’s Day present for his wife. The ship languished in Santa Monica and Long Beach, frequently breaking loose from her mooring. She was eventually taken to Ensenada where she remained a foundered eyesore in the Ensenada Harbor. Captain Arthur A. Morris served as the first captain of the ''Catalina''. Captains Hans Christensen and Lee Mussetter followed. Captain Lloyd Fredgren was the ship's last master, and he remained with the S.S. ''Catalina'' for the rest of her active career. | S.S. ''Catalina'' was retired from Island service in 1976. The following year she was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and registered as California State Landmark No. 894, and City of Los Angeles Historical Cultural Monument No. 213. She was put up for auction in 1977, and purchased by Hymie Singer, a real estate agent who bought the ship as a Valentine’s Day present for his wife. The ship languished in Santa Monica and Long Beach, frequently breaking loose from her mooring. She was eventually taken to Ensenada where she remained a foundered eyesore in the Ensenada Harbor. Captain Arthur A. Morris served as the first captain of the ''Catalina''. Captains Hans Christensen and Lee Mussetter followed. Captain Lloyd Fredgren was the ship's last master, and he remained with the S.S. ''Catalina'' for the rest of her active career. | ||
Revision as of 13:21, 6 June 2015
S. S. Catalina (#223907) (1924-1976), 285-foot steel-hulled ship built in San Pedro for Santa Catalina Island excursion service, the last and largest of the excursion ships built to serve the island. William Wrigley, Jr. commissioned her to be built at the Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Company at a cost of $1,000,000. Her original capacity was was 1,963 passengers, which was later increased to 2,197. All her lifeboats were housed on the lower deck, leaving more room for passengers on the top promenade deck. Known as the ‘Great White Steamer,’ the S.S. Catalina is said the have carried more people than any other ship in the history of her time. She made more than 9000 trips to the island, and carried more than 20 million passengers. She also transported over 800,000 troops in San Francisco during World War II. Both United States presidents Coolidge and Hoover are counted among her guests.
S.S. Catalina was retired from Island service in 1976. The following year she was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and registered as California State Landmark No. 894, and City of Los Angeles Historical Cultural Monument No. 213. She was put up for auction in 1977, and purchased by Hymie Singer, a real estate agent who bought the ship as a Valentine’s Day present for his wife. The ship languished in Santa Monica and Long Beach, frequently breaking loose from her mooring. She was eventually taken to Ensenada where she remained a foundered eyesore in the Ensenada Harbor. Captain Arthur A. Morris served as the first captain of the Catalina. Captains Hans Christensen and Lee Mussetter followed. Captain Lloyd Fredgren was the ship's last master, and he remained with the S.S. Catalina for the rest of her active career.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Catalina
In the News~
February 18, 1925 [TI/Avalon]: “Repainted and redecorated, the steel steamship Avalon, Captain Lee Mussetter, is now on the daily run between Catalina Island and Wilmington.”
April 8, 1937 [TI/Avalon]: “In case you did not know, Captain Lee Mussetter of the S.S. Catalina, is not only the ace Captain of the W.T. Co., but an expert cabinet maker.”
September 1, 1955 [TI/Avalon]: “Captain Lee Mussetter bowed out to the fanfare of shrill whistles, fog horns harbormaster cannon, and assorted harbor noises yesterday at 4:30 when he headed the big white steamer Catalina to the mainland for his last trip aboard as captain. He begins a well deserved retirement today. The captain received a going away present from 50 Avalon businessmen in the form of a draft for $234.00 which was contributed by them as a token of appreciation and good wishes. There was a short ceremony on the boat just before the trip, including an interview over KBIG. The bay was crowded with boats full of well-wishers and old timers said it was one of the biggest sendoffs ever accorded anyone here. The Flying Fish boats were decorated, and the shoreboats, cruisers, speedboats and autoboats all converged near the steamer pier as the Catalina sailed for the mainland.”
