Kalakala

JC Boykin · **Posted:** Sun Sep 14, 2003 4:02 am

The diesel-powered ferry, Kalakala, came up in the Interchange a few months ago. It was sold at auction today for $140,000 to a man from the Bay area, Charles Medlin, who said he would restore it. Does anyone have any information on Mr. Medlin?

BrianF · **Posted:** Sun Sep 14, 2003 9:59 pm

For those not blessed to live near Puget Sound, here's a link to the Kalakala Foundation's web page.

Kalakala.org
brianf425@yahoo.com

Stephen Hussar · **Posted:** Mon Sep 15, 2003 6:51 pm

Here's the Seattle Times's webpage.
Apparently Mr. Medlin offered $2 million to the bankrupt foundation for the ship a year ago. He was able to buy it at auction for $140,000. and he now
plans on a $35 million restoration.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001728375_kalakala14m.html
SJHussar@aol.com

Kevin Gillespie · **Posted:** Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:43 pm

This will be the second time in 15 years that a historic vessel has gone from Puget Sound to the Bay Area and ended up being preserved.

Back in the early 90's, a group in the Puget Sound area tried to save the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-12). They planned to make her a museum at Bremerton. They ultimately failed in their attempt, and the Hornet was sold to Astoria Metals, and towed to San Francisco for scrapping.

Then fate intervened. The 50th anniversary of VJ Day was approaching, and the Commanding Officer of Alameda Naval Air Station, Captain James Dodge, USN requested that she be towed to Alameda NAS to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Hornet's presence drew thousands of visitors, many of whom became aware of the ship's plight. As a result, a committee was formed to try to preserve her at Alameda where the previous USS Hornet (CV-8) loaded the B-25's that carried out the Doolittle raid on Tokyo in April, 1942.

In the meantime, across the country, the scrapping of the USS Coral Sea (CV-43) brought the problem of asbestos removal to the front pages of the newspapers. Astoria Metals got cold feet, and the USS Hornet Foundation was able to buy the precious extra time needed to raise the funds for her preservation.

I had the good fortune to be able to visit the USS Hornet in December, 1999. The dedication of the docents left a lasting impression. She is a "work in progress." I hope to see her again in a year or two.

I hope the Kalakala will end up being as well preserved. Seattle's loss is San Francisco's gain.

kevin.r.gillespie@verizon.net

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Mon Sep 15, 2003 8:31 pm

> Here's the Seattle Times's webpage.
> Apparently Mr. Medlin offered $2 million to
> the bankrupt foundation for the ship a year
> ago. He was able to buy it at auction for
> $140,000. and he now
> plans on a $35 million restoration.

I tried to find out about Mr. Charles Medlin on the web. I could find nothing except an article from a few years ago when a Mr. Charles Medlin in California that was one of the bidders for a satellite communication firm. The article reported that he was ellusive and used a private mail box service as an address.

Brian Norden

bnorden49@earthlink.net

Ted Miles · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2003 12:07 am

You can bet on that! Seattle has failed to preservea whole fleet of ships. The CA THayer at my museum, the Fallof Clyde in Honolulu and several other ferrries.

They have just missed out on a chance to get it together with in a nice old Naval Reserve Building that is on the water front and will now be going to a non-maritime group.

ted_miles@nps.gov

Ken Middlebrook · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2003 1:17 pm

Ted,

Any word on when the USS New Jersey will be moved from the mothball fleet in Suisan Bay to the city? As I recall, she was/is destined for a permanent berth by the Bay Bridge.

Ken

kamiddle@rockwellcollins.com

Boyd Owens · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2003 2:39 pm

Ken,

I think you mean the USS Iowa. The USS New Jersey is a museum in Camden, NJ. The USS Iowa is proposed to become a museum ship in San Francisco.

Boyd

USS Iowa
bowens@rypn.org

Stephen Hussar · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2003 9:14 pm

The National Trust's Preservation Online site has a short piece about the Kalakala in the "today's news" section. (after 9-17 the story will appear in the archives at the bottom of the "news" page)

http://www.nationaltrust.org/magazine/news/index.htm
SJHussar@aol.com

Kenneth Cotton · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2003 9:42 pm

> Ted,

> Any word on when the USS New Jersey will be
> moved from the mothball fleet in Suisan Bay
> to the city? As I recall, she was/is
> destined for a permanent berth by the Bay
> Bridge.

> Ken

Isn't the New Jersey the only battleship that can currently be returned to service?

kbcotton@flash.net

Boyd Owens · **Posted:** Tue Sep 16, 2003 10:17 pm

The USS New Jersey has been officially retired by the US Navy, however the USS Iowa and USS Wisconsin are still held in "reserve" by the Navy. Ships in "reserve" technically can be returned to active service at any time, if needed during wartime. The USS Wisconsin is currently a museum ship in Norfolk, VA.

FC1 (SW) Boyd Owens
US Navy (19 years and still serving)

bowens@rypn.org