Famed old steamer SS Catalina meets inglorious end
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- SS Catalina, the romantic "Great White Steamer" that for decades ferried tourists to and from its namesake island off Southern California, has come to a sad end.
The ship is being dismantled in the Mexican port of Ensenada, where it partially submerged years ago, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.
"It's just horrible, they're demolishing her as we speak," said David Engholm, of Coos Bay, Ore., a longtime fan of the ship. "Half of her funnel was still on the ship last month, but now it's gone. It's very sad."
The ship is being dismantled in the Mexican port of Ensenada, where it partially submerged years ago, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.
"It's just horrible, they're demolishing her as we speak," said David Engholm, of Coos Bay, Ore., a longtime fan of the ship. "Half of her funnel was still on the ship last month, but now it's gone. It's very sad."
More than 300 feet long, the SS Catalina was built by chewing gum
magnate William Wrigley when he owned the island. It carried thousands
of people between the mainland and the island city of Avalon between
1924 and 1975, except when it served a stint in military service during
World War II.
In its heyday it provided a glamorous trip to the island.
When faster boats cut the travel time, the vessel was retired after its 9,807th Catalina Channel crossing.
Beverly Hills developer Hymie Singer purchased the SS Catalina in 1977, but expensive dockage fees forced him to move it to ports across Southern California. After it broke loose from its moorings in Long Beach twice and the Coast Guard threatened to seize it, Singer had it towed south to Ensenada.
A plan to develop it into a floating tourist attraction with shops, a restaurant and a disco failed and the ship fell into further disrepair. Thieves stole equipment, and eventually it settled into the mud of the shallow bottom.
"I tried to save the pilot house. But the demolition company didn't get the word in time and tore it off the ship," said Engholm, who met his wife when he visited the beloved boat in Ensenada in 1989.
In its heyday it provided a glamorous trip to the island.
When faster boats cut the travel time, the vessel was retired after its 9,807th Catalina Channel crossing.
Beverly Hills developer Hymie Singer purchased the SS Catalina in 1977, but expensive dockage fees forced him to move it to ports across Southern California. After it broke loose from its moorings in Long Beach twice and the Coast Guard threatened to seize it, Singer had it towed south to Ensenada.
A plan to develop it into a floating tourist attraction with shops, a restaurant and a disco failed and the ship fell into further disrepair. Thieves stole equipment, and eventually it settled into the mud of the shallow bottom.
"I tried to save the pilot house. But the demolition company didn't get the word in time and tore it off the ship," said Engholm, who met his wife when he visited the beloved boat in Ensenada in 1989.
As a child I went over to Catalina Island with my parents, both professional ballroom dancers. When we stayed for a week I would go down to the pier and dive for coins people would throw from the ship as she docked.
In the mid 1960s I went over to Catalina with dates to the casino to dance to a live band! It was beyond wonderful to be able to dance over and then at the casino and then sleep on the way back.
Sometimes, all you are left with is memories and they have to be THAT GOOD and they are. It is sad that the ship is gone but the days are gone too and so are the people, only the music lingers on.
Linda, thanks for the dances, you were a great partner, they were great evenings dancing. People will never know such times again.