November 16, 2016

Adventures in Jack's World

November 16, 2016

My dad is working and my mom is using that loud monster that sucks things off the floor (I HATE that thing) so I snuck in here to pen my thoughts to all of you. Its been some time and I need to make sure that they are telling the whole story for all of you.

So, what's been going on? Back in May, I got to go to Norfolk with the ship. It wasn't too long of a trip...I'd say it took us about a year to get there, and we were there for like 6 hours (but I can't really tell time, so who knows). This was a first for me, as it was the first cruise that I've worked, which was pretty cool. There were a LOT of people on my ship, and that's the truth! It was a pretty neat experience and people seemed surprised to see a dog on the ship. Why is that?!? Lots of people tried to get their picture taken with me, so I will admit, It made me feel like a celebrity dog, like maybe Lassie, or Beethoven or Tramp (in Lady and the Tramp).

Then came the warm weather. I was told that they were busy this summer, painting the ship and doing lots of work and that it was dangerous for me to be on board the ship, but then I find THESE pictures on my parents drive... I'm not so sure what was going on, but some of it looks like monkey business was happening without me. I tell you, do I have to DO everything around there and supervise everyone??? These people also apparently know how to make messes!

I had to do some dog-subliminal-messaging with the Captain, to let him know that things needed to change, and wouldn't you know it? It worked... he told me that I could go to New York City on the ship. This trip was a bit longer and it was pretty hot, too. I was the first one off the ship, and I had to leave my mark on the pier. Let's say that my bladder must have been waiting for dry land, because people on the pier actually started clapping and cheering me as I was going to the bathroom. Yep, I was blushing. What? You don't think that dogs blush??? Well, I do!

It was a neat trip and I got to hang out with lots of my favorite people. The kids from New York's Harbor School were fun to hang out with too. And then wouldn't you know it... I somehow hurt my paw. They babied me each day but finally, midweek, my dad brought me to a nice vet clinic in Manhattan and they gave me medicine to kill the bad stuff that was making me sick, they wrapped my paw nicely and they gave me pain medicine and a very horrible cone of shame. That thing... ugg {insert whole body shake and shiver}, THAT lasted all of one afternoon, until I convinced them that I was NO idiot and was not going to take off the bandage. People! Jeesh, its not like I'm dense...I get it!

But other than that, I got to hang out in New York City, and I saw the Statue of Liberty. I slept on the floor with the Captain half the time (not ALL my doing, his wife asked me to keep him company since he would be missing her), and the other half with my dad. Sorry dad, but someone's got to hang out with the Captain and it's my job. Here are some of the pictures I could find to show that I was there. I'm just glad they didn't think to take a picture when they picked me up and put me on the surgery table to look at my foot, before deciding to take me to the vet. That was embarrassing, for pete's sake.

Finally, this past weekend, we held our holiday party for crew members. It's always good to hang out with all my peeps, especially when they're not covered in paint and smelly grease. Plus everyone dresses up nice and they smell good. And don't tell my dad, but they also gave me food. AT THE TABLE, when my dad wasn't watching. Hahaha...

These people writing the blog have been busy, so i'm sure they wont mind that I jumped in here to get the job done. Hopefully I'll have more to tell you soon. Until then, stay away from cats (they are mean and think they're better than everybody else!) and buy lots of treats for dogs (like me...hint, hint, hint...)

~Jack (from the SS JOHN W BROWN)

Project Liberty Ship, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization engaged in the preservation and operation of the historic ship JOHN W. BROWN as a living memorial museum. Gifts to Project Liberty Ship are tax deductible.

andrea horrocks

November 1, 2016

Arriving in New York City

andrea horrocks

November 1, 2016

The morning of Saturday, September 10 was just lovely, with a soft and hazy sunrise as we got closer to Sandy Hook where we were to pick up our pilot at 7am. Though it was barely light, the ladder needed to be rigged and so the deck department got an early start

Beside the fact that we were getting closer to New York City, there was a jubilant feeling in the air. This was because our pilot who we were shortly to pick up, was one or our own. Karen grew up on the BROWN with her younger sister, Alaina, and worked first in the store and the mailroom at the early age of about 12. Not only did the ship give them a large extended family but they also gained a love of history and the Merchant Marines. Karen, a Sandy Point Pilot, was our 'feet on the ground' person in NYC working to make this trip happen over the last year or so, and we were getting ready to meet the pilot boat so that she could climb aboard and bring us to the pier. In addition to Karen, her sister Alaina, was Chief Mate on the trip and the master of the vessel was Ben, another crew member who got his start on the BROWN at an early age. All three had been members for over 15 years, starting as young kids AND all three graduated from Kings Point.

Elsewhere, on the ship, there were a handful of people who grew up in New York in the different burroughs and went to High School on the BROWN. Many had gotten a chance to 'live the dream' years ago and steer the ship. You see, no matter what person you speak to, or what year they graduated, they all had one dream. As a High School, the ship was stationary and never moved, yet all students had a dream of getting in after hours and working together to take the ship for a spin. Over the last 25 years, those alumni of the High School who are crew members, have gotten a chance to be at the helm. On the trip to NYC we had 5 alumni sail and it was a pretty emotional for them because after the ship left the City, they never thought that they would have a chance to see the ship on the East River again.

Some more pictures coming in...it was an epic experience that we'd like to share with our members and followers.

So many pictures, so little time. Until our next blog, where we go over the things that happened in the week we were in New York as well as the cruise details.

andrea horrocks

October 19, 2016

The BROWN Heads to NYC

andrea horrocks

October 19, 2016

The trip to NYC technically began well over a year ago, when planning started in earnest. Eventually, through lots of meetings and lots of contacts, we found that getting a pier in NYC was going to be difficult. Most piers have not been maintained and are silted in. Many piers that already contain historic ships are actually silted in also, leaving ships sitting in mud. Finally we were able to settle on Pier 36 (even though there was a fee involved, and the location was certainly NOT the best) as our choices were limited. As much as the location was 'not the best', it actually was a really cool location. Let us explain: Pier 36, the banana pier is behind basketball city, just a few blocks from Chinatown. But even taxi and uber drivers were challenged to get to 'pier 36', as it seems that its not a big location for anyone. Ever. But at the same time... take a look at this view.

Now that we've given you a teaser of some NYC pictures, let's back up a bit. The adventure started on September 8th, when crew members making the trip were required to be on the ship. A lot of work needed to be done which included the handing out of the 'gumby suits', fire drills and abandon ship drills. Last minute large scale securing of equipment was also handled and cleaning of the ship for our time in NYC also occurred when there was down time, especially for those not sitting watches.

At around 1930 the ship left Clinton Street in Baltimore, headed to the East River in Manhattan. We had lots of crew members and families seeing us off.

Our first overnight was a bit uneventful with the watches going smoothly, and we made good time. Friday the 9th of September was a long day at sea. There was plenty of work that needed to be done, including putting masts into cradles and a scheduled burial at sea. And we had a great sunrise and sunset in the same day though half of it was cloudy and drab, and very hot.

We had a burial at sea for 11 past members of Project Liberty Ship. It's been a while since we had been off shore and met the federal requirements for burials at sea, so we took advantage of this day. Planned by the ships Chaplain and organized by the naval armed guard reenactors, it was a wonderful ceremony and was also videotaped so that copies could be sent to families.

We ended up making really good speed with the wind at our back for the first part of our trip and had to slow down at times. Friday was horribly hot (in the 90's) and though we'd been making good time in the morning, by the afternoon we needed to slow down, and the sun that had been absent, came out. We were overcome with what was termed 'The Desperate Houseflies of New Jersey". Somewhere, off the coast of Jersey, we were found by flies looking for land, perhaps. Either way, they were bitey, and relentless and the lack of wind made them worse. There is not much in the way of comfort on a 74 year old Liberty Ship, so crew members were doing what they could to stay cool, like eating lots of ice cream and bringing hammocks out on the hatches to sleep.

Clearly, this trip was way too long to be explained in one weekly blog. More to come next week.

On a side note, now that we are back home in Baltimore and things have relaxed a bit, things had to go and get hectic again. Our landlords (the owners of Pier One on Clinton Street) have begun demolition of the pier. This is at least a 6 month endeavor and we were moved over to another pier on Clinton Street. Though this is extremely generous, it is also a secured pier, and we must abide by the security plan, which does not make visitation an easy operation. Currently, the ship is closed to the public and this may be for as little as a couple of months or for the duration of our stay here. Stay tuned for more info. Until our blog next week where we continue with our NYC trip, have a great week.