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The Future Fate of the Falls of Clyde- Pier 7 - Honolulu Harbor

The Falls of Clyde has cost a half million dollars a year to maintain and repair and it has gotten so bad that the fate may be to just.....sink it.

Located just to the left of Aloha Tower Marketplace at Pier 7 in Honolulu Harbor (Hawaii Maritime Center) the Falls of Clyde is the ONLY four masted-fully rigged sailing ship left in the world!

It is a landmark and the adults and children love it although no one can set foot on it because of the disrepair.

This history behind this huge sailing vessel is as follows:

Built in 1878 by "Russel and Company" in Port Glasgow, Scotland
Named after the Falls of Clyde up the River Clyde in Central Glasgow, Scotland
Her first six years she spent in India trade and her maiden voyage took her to Karachi (Pakistan)
Then she did general cargo like wheat, cement, lumber from California, Austrailia, New Zealand, India and the British Isles.
In 1899 it was purchsed by William Matson (Matson Navigation Company) and from 1899 to 1907 she made 60 trips between Hilo, Hawaii to SanFrancisco, California.
Finally, in 1968 it was open to the public for viewing.
It was one of the original "MATSON" vessels
It was the 'lifeline' to the islands
It brought oil to the islands
It brought molasses out of the islands to the mainland
Registered in 1973 as a Historic Place in the National Register of Historic Places

Unless they happen upon a 32 million dollar donation for her complete makeover and care by the end of 2008, the Falls of Clyde will be sunk at sea.

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

Posted by Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman HAWAII Relocations & Real Estate on 03/27/2008 11:54 AM

Comments (31)

hawaii history

Originally posted at: Hawaii Real Estate & Relocations : The Future Fate of the Falls of Clyde- Pier 7 - Honolulu Harbor

This post has been included in Hawaii Information Honolulu County, HI Information
Post is included in group: US Coast Guard and Real Estate

31 Comments on The Future Fate of the Falls of Clyde- Pier 7 - Honolulu Harbor

MAR

2008

Sally,

Is this a new listing, foreclosure, short sale, 1031 exchange, or what??? :) Thanks, Fran

BTW, Are you aware there are 3 'Cheesemans' on AR??? Any relation?

Fran: No I wasn't aware....I don't think so.... I married into the Cheeseman family LOL! And no....this is just a news (and hopefully will bring in an angel to save it) story with some history for a wonderful historic landmark here.

Hi Sally, Hopefully the right eyes sees your post and comes forth with the loving act to save her. I had just completed 3 of the most remarkable paragraphs to you as my mind wondered into her memory and her life as she navigated the many waters of this earth, never yielding to the strength and might of the seas she sailed. ( But instead of hitting the spell check button on my task bar, I hit the return to home page button and lost the comment post). To continue,

She is a beauty and something that should be preserved as a link into ours and others history. Being a real working vessel, she never gave in but her life's story would bring forth many videos of the mind for ones imagination of what times were like in her glory years.

I can hear the sea birds as they seek refuge on the mast, all the while hoping something of the food stuffs would be shared. I can feel the wind that moved her majestic body as though floating through the heavens, yet they be the waters on the earth.

She is worth saving and she should be.

Wow, this is sad. It would be cool if someone looking for a few million to write off could find this! :)

William: Glorious minds account of what we may have seen. I do hope that some or many find a way to save her.....my friends hubbie has been on that ship working for years...trying to restore/repair it. Thanks William...it is with your insight and depth of your soul that will surely bring someone to come forward....who has the same kind of feelings :)

Karen: Sure would be....I do believe it would have to be someone who cares about preserving history too.

Sally, I love seeing those old ships and reading about their history is an extra treat. It would be a shame if it cannot be preserved.

Leslie: Yeah, we have plenty of history and plenty that need to be preserved. This ship is docked right by the Aloha Tower an in the harbor....right across the dinner cruise ship my husband I went on when we were married :)

This is such a piece of history...You would think someone can save it from such a demise.

Sally..I would think the biggest cost for her would be the maintenance because she's in the water...rot and they have to be turned and stuff. Seems to me it would be worthwhile taking her out of the water and building a little tourist area around her? ...just a thought!

Gary: I hope so....I love history....need to see something to know.

Joan: I agree...salt water can eat it all up too.....

Sally, poor Clyde! We have to find him a rich wife! Soon!

Sally, isn't there any funding for National Historic Places? I would think that the preservationists would be lobbying strongly for something to be done so you don't lose this precious piece of history!

Patricia: yeah...a sugar momma :)

Lisa: The Bishop Museum had funds but the repairs/maintenance are so extensive that they no longer have funds for it. a half million a year and still can't get it repaired! Salt water and old age....took a toll. They need three million asap or sink it at the end of this year.

Sally, here's hoping that the synergy of Active Rain, Google, and your positive attitude will find someone to donate the money to save this historic maritime treasure.

Hi Sally - what a beautiful picture that is! Your posts on your area are so refreshing - I always feel like they're a breath of fresh air every time I read one. Thanks for the great job you do on your local posts - they make me think back to the 2 times I've been, and they make me want to go out there again!

Ann

Brian: I hope so...I sure would miss it...it's been around since I was a kid :)

Ann: Come....come join me in the tropical climate!

Sally- I am sure that there is some ship lover out there somewhere in the world that would happily donate the money to save this wonderful piece of history. What a great history lesson.

Katerina: I hope so....

Oh, I hate to hear that they may let all that history just sink. Isn't there a way to move it onto dry land, or prop it up, where it is? There must be a way to cut down on the costs of maintenance. There's a boat like that in Savannah, GA. But the boat has been maintained well enough to allow people to go onto the boat and tour it. So the fee that is charged for people to see the ship, helps to cover the maintenance costs.

Sally- San Diego has a pretty historic sailing ship....I know they put a ton of money into it, and as you said it is a good tourist draw. One way or the other something will happen, I just hope it's the saving of the ship :)

MAR

2008

Cool, Sally. I remember this from our AR outing in Honolullu, but only saw the boat in the dark (I have a pic too but not nearly a nice as yours). Thanks for sharing this - I wondered about the history.

Jeff

Lisa: Believe me...everything has been tried in years prior....no one can go on...that bad.

Kathy: I hope so too.

Jeff: Yeah... I took this one a couple of months ago.....I knew something was up.

simply beautiful - very nice - great photos

Sally - Is there a website or link of some kind to make donations? I'm a lover of all ships and would like to learn a little more. <off to Google>

Thesa: Hope for the best.

Kathy: Here ya go.... http://www.bishopmuseum.org/media/2008/pr08033.html

MAR

2008

Sally.... it's ashame, because I love the history of older ships.... but that is a lot of money per year.... and I need to look into something, but I could have sworn that there is a ship in the NYC area that fits that same description. I even wrote about it briefly, when I did my NYC/Manhattan series. But again, that stinks, because that looks like a gorgeous ship.

MAR

2008

Aloha Sally,

As those of us who live on the ocean know the battle with the elements is a losing one especially with anything made from metal, as this ship is.

I didn't realize there is no more four masters left aside from the Falls of Clyde. There's the Esmerelda but she's from the 20th century, not an antique.

She would make a great reef and dive attraction, should they have to sink her.

Mahalo for the post,

How sad! I remember driving by the Falls of Clyde many times while driving downtown as a teenager...

Jeff: It sure does....but hey...nothing lasts forever right?

Kimo: Thanks for stopping by Kimo! Alas...but it is true...it just may make a good attraction....unless too deep.

Marlene: It sure is...I guess there will be something else in its place ....maybe.

SEP

2008

Hi Sally

A group called 'The Friends of the Falls of Clyde" is forming in Honolulu to try to save her and are in negotiation with the current owners - The Bishop Museum. The ship has been fully stripped and prepared for scuttling and the Coast Guard have signed off on towing arrangements. The stay of execution has extended unofficially, possibly to the end of September.

The new Group needs your ACTIVE active support.

If you want to contribute directly to the effort to save the Falls of Clyde, please send your donations to The Caledonian Society of Hawaii, P.O. Box 4164, Honolulu HI 96812-4164.

Barnacle Bill (that's cute): I saw that on the news a week or so ago.

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