Full By &
Winter 2017
Vol . 28: 4
Maritime Museum of S an Diego Newsletter
1898 Steam Ferry Berkeley Restoration Begins
sdmaritime.org
Meeting the Mission of Preservation: Berkeley’s Second Life
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n her first 60 years, she was a prime example of modern transportation: a triple-expansion steam engine that ran fore and aft props rather than paddlewheels. Made to ferry commuters across the San Francisco Bay in comfort and on schedule, Berkeley was a great leap in seafaring mechanization post the Age of Sail. Berkeley arrived by tug into San Diego Bay in 1973 to begin her second life as our beloved Maritime Museum. Retired from the ferry service in 1958, she was purchased by an entrepreneur and became a floating shopping area called Trade Fair, in Sausalito, during which time everything other than her main deck was neglected. When she arrived at B Street Pier, her basic structure was sound, but she had nothing but chicken wire and tar paper as her roof, and on the lower decks, the weathered remains of trade stalls stood abandoned. The once-elegant upper passenger deck overhead was crisscrossed with internal rain gutters, a desperate attempt to manage the leaking roof. Windows were cracked and broken, benches and fine millwork showing their age. Fortunately, here at the Maritime Museum of San Diego we see iconic old vessels like Berkeley as the visual and tangible conservation of our nation’s identity. We respect the many people who left their marks on history and want to preserve that collective memory so that those lessons learned live on. Restoration and preservation are our legacy. Thanks to a tenacious, creative and generous group of people working over several generations, the complex and noble task of recovery began and still is continued today. The dismal cavern of grease, grime and rust that had been in the machinery spaces was scraped and scoured, the steam engine and boilers restored and opened as exhibits. The main deck was repaired, her bilges made buoyant and watertight. Over the next 25 years, individual stained glass windows and benches were “adopted” by the community and restored one by one. The wooden floors were sanded and varnished, tile replaced and the millwork patched and painted. Offices were installed, bathrooms and bars refurbished. Her 2,000-ton hulk was hoisted into dry dock, 18,000 sq. feet of bottom sand blasted and coated with CeRam-Kote, a high-tech epoxy, to keep it from rusting through. Today, Berkeley stands as contribution to the well-being of locals and visitors alike. Her presence is not just as testimony to the time and people who originally built and used her, but also to all those who have strived to keep her going. Thanks to all of you who have made Berkeley a National Historic Landmark and the hub and the home of our great maritime heritage collection. Time may march on, but we have captured an important piece of it and we will continue to do so. History matters here at MMSD! Kelli Lewis, Development Director
(619) 234-9153 ext. 126
Full & By - Winter 2017
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sdmaritime.org
Full & By - Winter 2017
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Thank You Butcher Boy Benefactors!
Thanks to the generous donations given by you between December 1, 2016 and October 24, 2017, work to restore this rich San Diego treasure is ready to begin! Michael and Gretchen Anderson Anonymous Martha L. Baird Deron and Toni Bear David E. Behr Linda M. Bonham Bennett Borer Beth Boucher Dale A. Bowers Kathryn Brown Ofelia G. and Ellery J. Brown Pamela Burns and William J. Edick, Jr. William L. Corwin Kevin Coulombe Judith Hodgkinson and Carolyn Cronin Dr. Allen J. Curtis Dave and Rose Marie Dishman Colleen and Richard Doering Bill and Carolyn Doherty Donald C. and Elizabeth Dressel Dean and Barbara Dunphy Lynne J. Eddy Ronald Ellison Heidrun Faulconer Walter and Roxy Faust August Felando Dr. Reinhard E. Flick Mark Schlesinger and Beatrice Flores James Foley Jean Franklin Chris and Dale Frost Marilyn Fulton Loretta Gander Richard W. Geary Jacqueline Gillman Carolyn Goben John and Christie Grey Birney and Rosemary Groom Gurrera & Associates 4
sdmaritime.org
Tim and Ann Hall Alan J. Heseman Chuck and Sharon Hope Cdr. Donald Hubbard, USN (Ret) Robert R. Jackson Stuart and Lynn Jewell Dr. Bob Kaye William and Shirley Kimmich Frank Kramer Niki Lee Krutop and Dee Krutop Fred Kuhlman Jerry LaDow Ann Lampkin David Latham Warfield and Laurine Leeke Kent and Gloria Lewis Dennis Lindroth Mike and Penny Lingo Peter and Jeanette Lobner Warren Lydecker Alonzo Lynch Murugappa and Nachammai Madhavan Douglas and Carla Mair Carol May Maureen McBreen John and Carol McKnight Vincent Morrison Steven Morrison Edgar L. Morse, III Alex Perry and Patricia Murray Cathleen Pearson Pete and Jody Petersen Mary Lou Peterson Bob and Pam Plumbley William Pogue Jeanne Reynolds Rotary Club of Point Loma #33 William P. Russell Ryan Family Charitable Foundation
Derek Schmidt Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation John P. Scripps Foundation Doug and Carolyn Sharp Andy and Rebecca Shelest Donald and Diane Sherman Terry Shewmaker Dan Skorca E. Brian and Edith JoAnne Smith Lauren Beaudry and Jack Snider Robert and Mary Solsbak Alan Sorkin William and Susan Southwell Paul R. Spencer Donald E. Steele Allan Tait Erminia and Tony Taranto Cora Tarbox Alan and Stephanie Tarkington Philip Thearle Russell Thomas
Richard Thorpe and Kathryne Thorpe Dr. V. Roger Tibbetts John and Nancy Todd Dr. Max and Esther Trummer Kenneth and Patricia Umbarger Bennie J. Valeu Georgana Van Blaricom Merle and Susan Vogel Karl Wagner Steven L. and Karen M. Walton Eric and Cindy Warner David H. Watry George Edward Weiss Keith and Pamela Wetterer Sandra Turner and Lewis Wheeler Bob and Marion Wilson Gregory L. Wilson Frank Wyatt Barbara Zell and Bill McHargk Philip and Marjorie Ziegler Jack Zolezzi
Star of India’s beautiful and bright holiday lighting arrangement made possible this year by a generous donation from long time and dedicated maintenance/ sail crew volunteer member, Robert Knapp.
Another Way to Help Support the Maritime Museum of San Diego
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n IRA charitable rollover is a smart way to make a gift to support the mission of our Museum and to spare yourself additional income taxes. How does it work? If you are 70½ or older, you are eligible to transfer up to $100,000 each year from your IRA to a qualified charity, free from federal income tax. This can be done simply by notifying your IRA provider that you want a distribution made from your IRA directly to the Museum. This qualified charitable distribution bypasses your adjusted gross income, can count towards your annual required minimum distribution (RMD), and may reduce the impact on certain tax credits and deductions, including Social Security and Medicare. Using this technique may allow you to make a gift this year that you did not otherwise think was possible. For more details, please consult with your tax professional. Kelli Lewis, Development Director (619) 234-9153 ext. 126 Full & By - Winter 2017
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Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID
San Diego. CA Permit No. 1089
MARITIME MUSEUM
of SAN DIEGO
At Star of India Wharf
1492 N. HARBOR DRIVE SAN DIEGO, CA 92101-3309