This is what's left of the Regina Maris, a three-masted barkentine, nearly a century old, with a storied history, having sailed four oceans. She has given up the waters now, and what is left of her is firmly planted on land. The ship was barely intact when it first arrived in Glen Cove from Greenport. There was hope to save her, but so much of the hull was rotten. Unfortunately it sank at the dock, and after being submerged they decided to save some small part of her and install the remains on land. They took the top four feet of the hull and the bowsprit, the masts and deckhouse, and permanently installed them next to a walkway by the creek. I was so surprised when I drove by in the distance, and saw the masts and yardarms in the distance - I couldn't imagine what it was. Unfortunately, it is located next to the Superfund site, so even though there is a nice walkway, it is closed to people who might come and visit what once was.
That's a sad end to a ship's life.
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to explain what a "Superfund site" is to a non-Long Islander?
A Superfund site is an uncontrolled or abandoned place where hazardous waste is located, possibly affecting local ecosystems or people. Sites are listed on the National Priorities List (NPL) upon completion of Hazard Ranking System (HRS) screening, public solicitation of comments about the proposed site, and after all comments have been addressed.
ReplyDeleteOver the past 20+ years, Superfund has located and analyzed tens of thousands of hazardous waste sites, protected people and the environment from contamination at the worst sites, and involved states, local communities, and other partners in cleanup.
Go here to find your local superfund sites... :-(
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/index.htm
Wow, where does Chuck live, in Paradise? Every country including this one has Superfund sites because for years, no one monitored what toxic wastes businesses were producing and throwing out. Heavy metals and other pollutants from manufacturing, mostly. On Long Island, a Superfund site (so called because it usually takes many millions to clean up one of substantial size) is especially dangerous because our drinking water comes from the ground. If these toxic wastes leach into our groundwater, we're sunk. So far, we're told by officials that no toxins have penetrated Long Island's thick clay layers, but do we believe them? Do we have a choice? Anyway, there are many Superfund sites all over this country, and probably one near where you live, Chuck. Government tries to go after the culprits, but by the time they identify the problem, the business is usually closed. Unless you have very influential elected officials who can bring in enough federal funds for the cleanup, the Superfund sites remains toxic.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame this beautiful looking place-probably would have been ideal for jogging, walking, biking-has been destroyed with hazardous waste!! Trace
ReplyDeletei am glad to see ther is a "memorial" left to this once magnificent ship.
ReplyDeleteI sailed her in 1971-1972 fromholland to the Us and To Tahiti and back aswell as down the Mexican coast.
You can find many of my pictures at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tall-ships/photos/album/430736759/pic/list
(you may have to register)
Regards to all,
Henk Ahrens