1996 SS America Preservation Project

The first SS America preservation project was originally planned for September 1995, but was cancelled by the park administration the day before it took place.  We had embraced their added requirements and met them all in time for the project, much to the surprise of the park assistant superintendent.  He felt they really needed more time to study the concept and delayed permission for the project until the following year.

On Saturday, September 7, 1996, 1 PM, four boats tied up at the Park Service pier at Isle Royale -- Hey Boy, Hang Time, Nobility and the Grampa Woo and started the unloading and redistribution of the tons of equipment and supplies. They were all part of the first shipwreck preservation project ever attempted in a National Park and maybe the world.  The plan called for two of the boats to tie up to the wreck while the other two served in a support role. The intent of this experimental project was not only to accomplish the restoration objectives, but also to to develop and enhance the tools, skills and procedures to make a project like this a feasible undertaking. After arriving at the wreck site and tying up, the Corporations Safety Officer entered the water to conduct an inspection of the wreck site work area. After the inspection was completed a briefing was held and the actual restoration work began. The divers, utilizing hardhat and Scuba equipment, worked at depths of up to 30 feet in the forward and aft berthing compartments. There were 10 divers in the available pool with typically 4 in the water at any given time. The work day was basically from dawn to dusk. The work accomplished during the 4 days at the wreck site was the reconstruction of many wooden items such as bunks, bulkheads, and ladders.  In 1992 the forward wall of the berthing compartment had collapsed causing some of the bunks to fall apart and all the smaller steam pipes to collapse.  It was nearly impossible to swim through the rooms without becoming entangled.  Untangling the heap of remains of the walls and pipes was like pulling apart a pile of pick-up sticks.  Eventually we unraveled the puzzle and re-set then rebuilt the wall and re-hung the many pipes and conduits.

The intent of S.S. America project was not only to achieve the goals set forth in the original proposal, but also to serve as a testing ground for development of new tools, techniques and procedures for future projects. In conclusion, the project completed all its goals and proved that with proper planning and resources that shipwreck restoration is feasible. Project participants included GLSPS members Ron Benson, Dennis Bentilla, Tom Brueshaber, David Cooper, Dan Gates, Ken Knutson, Al Lezunov, Ken Merryman, Robert Olson, Jerry Provost, David Schmidt, and Wisconsin State Archaeologist, David Cooper.

Since much of the work was being done in an overhead environment, all participants went through a rigorous training program in Light Underwater Construction using surface supplied diving gear.	Our mentor, instructor, and Safety Officer was Jerry Provost.
One of the equipment inventions were the screw paddles.  These held the bronze screws so they could be easily grasped in our gloved hands or you could drive the screw right through them.	Our first GLSPS fund raiser was the "I GAVE TO SAVE" T-shirt.  Sales covered most of the costs of the trip.  Everyone kicked in for food and gasoline.