THE AUCTION

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The SS UNITED STATES was retired in November of 1969. It was not ready for retirement, having worked only 17 years. Our desire for speed over leisure put us on jets. Vacation experts say that to get the full benefits of a vacation you need to take at least two weeks off, using the first 3 days to forget job pressure and unwind. Then you can start to enjoy. A three and a half day transatlantic crossing was a great way to start a vacation to Europe.

After being mothballed for fifteen years, the ships new owners planned to turn it into a cruise ship. They were going to auction off the "fifties" content of the ship. This was a great opportunity to see the ship again and to purchase a part of history. I picked up my brother in Washington, DC and we headed for Norfolk. As usual, the UNITED STATES drew a crowd. Over 3000 showed up for the auction, and 12,000 for a tour of the ship.

ss#3.jpg (83040 bytes) The auction of a Superliner is no ordinary event. It took 7 days to sell all the furniture, dinnerware, artwork, blankets, uniforms, kitchen equipment, and parts. When we arrived on Saturday morning the auction was in full swing, with prices on the high side. We decided to take a last tour of the ship. The ship had been sealed and an extensive dehumidifying system, had kept the interiors in good shape. It was a great experience walking around the decks and rooms where I had roamed and played as a kid. We also walked through areas I had never seen, such as the radio room, the bridge, Commodore Cabin, and kitchen area.

In the evening we returned to the auction and started buying. I remember the same auctioneer was still working. She was still smooth calm and collected. Members of the ship's crew showed up, and they were introduced by the auctioneer. We met Dr John Sheedy, the ships doctor. The auction was stopped, and the ships last captain Commodore Alexanderson was introduced. He told us how hard it was for him to see his beautiful ship being gutted, but that he was hopeful for her future. The transformation to a cruise ship never happened. After 22 years of being moved from dock to dock, rusting and stripped of everything that could be moved or pulled off a wall, The United States was sold at auction to pay for delinquent mooring fees.

Last fall our family was driving down I 95 in Philadelphia, and over on my left, I couldn’t believe my eyes! There it was the SS UNITED STATES. Since then I have been following the developments' thanks to the SS UNITED STATES home page. The ship is one of our national monuments. It is the largest ship built in this country.An object of national pride when it won the Blue Riband, the fastest passenger liner ever built, and a triumph in design and engineering. I hope that it can be restored and sail again.