Deepwater Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs) for Tidewater Inc.

The Door County Maritime Museum’s Speaker Series continues with a topic that is always of interest to Door County residents and particularly those in the Sturgeon Bay area. Gene Caldwell will provide a general overview of current work underway at the yard including some of the projects associated with the wintering fleet. He’ll also discuss parent company Fincantieri’s improvement projects at the yard as well as an update on the construction status of the deepwater Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs) for Tidewater Inc.

Last fall, Bay Shipbuilding announced the beginning of construction of the 303-ft. PSV vessels which are used to ferry materials and personnel to offshore oil platforms and other offshore structures.

The Speaker Series will then continue the first Thursday in March with a presentation on the War of 1812 and its impact on the Great Lakes by the Museum Executive Director Bob Desh. The series concludes on Thursday, March 29, with a program on the Museum’s hugely popular boat building program.

All of the programs begin at 7 pm at the Sturgeon Bay museum. They are free of charge and open to the public with donations appreciated. For more information contact the Museum at 920.743.5958 or visit www.dcmm.org.

Washington Island author, Richard Purinton

This initial program on will provide an excellent holiday shopping opportunity with the museum’s gift shop open for business and a book signing opportunity with the evening’s featured speaker. Purinton, who serves as the CEO for the family-run Washington Island Ferry Line, is an award-winning author, having penned three books related to the Island. His book “Over and Back – A History of Transportation to Washington Island” earned an Award of Merit from the Wisconsin Historical Society after being released in 1991. More recently he authored “Words on Water – A Ferryman’s Journal” in 2009 and last year “Bridges Are Still News – Island Essays, Poems and Photos” was released.

Purinton was born and raised in Sturgeon Bay, graduating from Sturgeon Bay High School in 1965. Like his father Harry, Purinton is an active sailor. He honed his sailing skills as a crew member for Pat Haggerty’s Palmer Johnson sloop, Bay Bea. Purinton graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Journalism degree in 1970 before entering the United States Navy.

He began working as deckhand for his father-in-law Arnie Richter’s Washington Island Ferry Line in 1974. Purinton has held various positions with the ferry line including general manager and president, a position currently held by his son Hoyt. As CEO, Purinton now has more time to pursue side interests and writing projects.

The Speaker Series continues the first three Thursdays in January, February and March with programs relating to re-powering of a 1,000-ft. ore carrier; an update on work at Bay Shipbuilding; and the War of 1812 and its impact on the Great Lakes. The series concludes on Thursday, March 29, with a program on the Museum’s hugely popular boat building program.

All of the programs begin at 7 pm at the Sturgeon Bay museum. They are free of charge and open to the public with donations appreciated.

For more information contact the Museum at 920.743.5958 or visit www.dcmm.org.

“Turn Turtle” competes in 2010 Sikaflex Challenge sea trials

There will still be plenty of boats on the museum grounds in Sturgeon Bay the weekend of August 6 – 7 and the ever-popular Sikaflex Challenge boat building competition returns for its two-day run, but some new elements have been added to entertain and educate all ages.

The most obvious to visitors will be the Maritime Mart, a vendor oriented event much in the same mold as the arts and crafts fairs seen at many area festivals. This one has a twist in that all the items are nautical in nature and carry through on the show’s “Boats, Books & Brushes” theme.

This year’s Festival also joins the City of Sturgeon Bay in its week-long “Salute to the United States Coast Guard” with plenty of the local Guardians taking part in Festival event.  The Coast Guard will be well represented with the return appearance of “Coastie,” the remote-controlled boat sponsored by the local Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla. Some of the Coast Guard’s most eye-catching equipment will also be on hand.

The Coast Guard will also play a prominent part in show’s most popular event, the Sikaflex Challenge boat building competition. At least three Coast Guard teams are signed up for a fun “competition within a competition” as they battle for Coast Guard bragging rights. Boat construction will again get underway Saturday morning at 10 am with up to 12 two-person teams required to build a boat with limited materials and just four hours to garner points to carry over into Sunday’s in-water race. Always a big draw, the race will begin at 12:45 pm with the colorfully decorated vessels hitting the water and racing against the clock. Points are awarded and coupled with Saturday’s construction totals to produce an overall winner.

The open-air painting event, “Paint the Bay,” will encompass the entire Sturgeon Bay waterfront. Artists will have Saturday morning to create their art before returning it for a silent auction inside the museum Saturday afternoon and Sunday. A People’s Choice vote will select the work, which will grace the 2012 festival poster. Advance registration for artists can be made online at www.dcmm.org or between 8-9 a.m. Saturday morning on the festival grounds.

The restored 149-foot tug John Purves remains a prominent attraction with tours again part of the festival admission this year. The Festival Committee has a single ticket entry structure that permits adults to gain admission to the festival at the regular daily fee to the museum and tug. Also, children’s admission prices have been expanded to encourage more family attendance. Children ages 11 and younger as well as museum members are admitted free.

But the dozens of boats, both in-water and on land, remain the festival’s featured attraction. From a 1963 Amphicar and classic Chris-Crafts to handcrafted canoes and kayaks, the festival is a boat-lover’s must-see event. Although a judging panel determines the plaque winners, visitors will again have the opportunity to vote for their favorite.

Boat building again highlights the children’s activities along with the ever-popular toy tug races.

Of course, the concessions stand is back, featuring an expanded menu this year.

Boat registrations are taken up to Saturday morning at 9 am and a few spots remain for the Sika Challenge. Call the Museum at 920.743.5958 for more information or visit www.dcmm.org to register a boat or see a calendar of events.

For information contact:

Jon Gast, Event Coordinator
920.743.5958
jgast@dcmm.org

The photo exhibition features the work of Dennis Mullen, who is particularly noted for his underwater and nature photography. Dennis is an accomplished diver with over 1,000 dives logged.  His sophisticated photographic style incorporates subject, surroundings, composition and exposure to create compelling images. The show is being presented by the Neptune’s Dive Club of Green Bay in conjunction with the Maritime Museum.

“Some of the most significant shipwrecks off the Lake Michigan coast are featured in the exhibit,” says the museum’s executive director Bob Desh. The exhibit is being described as a virtual dive experience through Mullen’s photography.  The photos will be on display Gills Rock through October 16.

In addition to the dive exhibit, a dramatic painting depicting the deadly frenzy of the D-Day landing is also now on display in Gills Rock.  On exhibit in Sturgeon Bay since early June, the print, which is a copy of a mural presented to the United States Coast Guard Academy on June 5, 2009, depicts the first three Coast Guard-manned LCI’s (Landing Craft Infantry) assaulting Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. The painting holds particular significance to Door County since LCI 94’s crew included several Door County residents including Commanding Officer Lt. Gene Gislason and Chief Motor Machinist Mate Elmer Sorensen Sr.

Admission to the Gills Rock museum is $5 for adults and $2 for youth (ages 5 – 17).  The Museum is located at 12724 W. Wisconsin Bay Road and is open 7 days a week from 10 am to 5 pm.

For more information call 920-743-5958 or visit www.dcmm.org.

"Coast Guard Manned Landing Craft at Normandy, June 6th, 1944" by Tony Falcone

Highlighting the event will be the unveiling of the dramatic print “D-Day Landing.”

The print, which is a copy of a mural presented by artist Tony Falcone to the United States Coast Guard Academy on June 5, 2009, depicts the first three Coast Guard-manned LCI’s (Landing Craft Infantry) assaulting Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. The painting holds particular significance to Door County since several Door County residents including Commanding Officer Lt. Gene Gislason and Chief Motor Machinist Mate Elmer Sorensen Sr. served as crew aboard the LCI 94.

The 94 figures prominently in the foreground of the painting. The vessel was able to avoid beach obstacles and maneuver close enough to dispatch its troops and then retract from the beach, overcoming mechanical problems despite being hit by three German-fired shells. In the background of the painting LCI’s 91 and 92 are burning having struck mines on their approach to the beach.

The ceremony will be included with normal museum admission that day. WWII veterans, museum members and active duty military personnel will be admitted free. Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony.

Copies of the print will be available for sale in the museum store.

The exhibition features the work of Dennis Mullen, who is particularly noted for his underwater and nature photography. Dennis is an accomplished diver with over 1,000 dives logged.  In addition to his extensive Great Lakes experience, he returns every winter to dive the waters of Bonaire, located off the coast of Venezuela.  His sophisticated photographic style incorporates subject, surroundings, composition and exposure to create compelling images.  The show is being presented by the Neptune’s Dive Club of Green Bay in conjunction with the Maritime Museum.

“Some of the most significant shipwrecks off the Lake Michigan coast are featured in the exhibit,” says the museum’s executive director Bob Desh, who emphasizes that Wisconsin’s Schooner Coast is a newly formed marketing collaboration. “It highlights the rich maritime history of the 60-mile stretch along the Lake Michigan coastline and the quaint port towns of Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Kewaunee, Algoma and Sturgeon Bay. This is one of the first programs being offered by this cooperative effort with the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc.”

The exhibit is being described as a virtual dive experience through Mullen’s photography.  After July 5, the exhibit will move to the maritime museum in Gills Rock for display through October 16.

Admission to the Museum $12.50 for adults and $9 for youth (ages 5-17) and includes both the Museum and a docent-lead tour of the tug John Purves. A museum-only admission of $8 ($4 youth) is also offered. Hours are from 10 am – 5 pm daily until Memorial Day weekend when they expand to 9 am – 6 pm. The Museum is located at 120 N. Madison Ave. in Sturgeon Bay.

For more information call 920.743.5958 or visit www.dcmm.org.

Cana Island Light

Nearly all of last year’s land-based tours and boat cruises return for this year’s June 10-12 event with a few changes and additions.

The annual Friday evening Keeper’s Kin event has expanded. A 6 pm dinner cruise has been added followed by the traditional dessert buffet cruise at 8 pm. Again, relatives of Door County lighthouse keepers will be on board the Harbor Lady to share stories during the cruise off Sherwood Point Lighthouse. A Sunday morning brunch cruise is being introduced this year on the Harbor Lady that will take passengers past both Sturgeon Bay area lights.

Through the cooperation of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Serve and the Friends of Plum & Pilot Islands, the Plum Island Cruise and Tour returns. It quickly sold out last year and is expected to be a hot ticket again this year. The tour includes a lengthy hike on the island. The Chambers Island Tour also sold out a year ago after being off the schedule for many years. But those interested in talking one of the Saturday or Sunday trips are advised that a lengthy hike will be required to reach the lighthouse this year.

Other boat trips include the popular six-hour Island Clipper tour which will take visitors past a couple of Michigan lights before stopping at Rock Island for a hike to the lighthouse. That tour leaves from Gills Rock as does the Death’s Door tour which takes passengers around both Plum and Pilot Islands.

The Baileys Harbor Lighthouse & Shipwreck Tour cruises past the harbor’s lights and then on to Cana Island. Some shipwreck hunting is part of the tour. In Sturgeon Bay, the former Chicago fireboat Fred A. Busse will be running a pair of alternating, 90-minutes tours throughout the weekend as either the Sherwood Point Tour or the Canal Station Lights Tour.

There are five land-based tours, four making stops at the five mainland accessible lights. Most fun of all may be the Friday and Saturday evening Ghost/Mystery Tour leaving from the Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay. It will offer a new opportunity to experience Sherwood Point Lighthouse after dark.

For more information on schedules and pricing or to request a brochure visit www.dcmm.org. Tickets can be ordered on the Web site or by calling 920.743.5958.

Tug John Purves

The immaculately restored 149-foot vessel has proven to be an extremely popular attraction since opening to the public in August of 2008 following a remarkable five-year restoration project that. Many of those same volunteers now are members of the docent team that conducts the 45-minute tours.

Built in 1919 and christened the Butterfield, the tug has a colorful past that even included World War II duty in the Aleutian Islands. The tug made its way to Sturgeon Bay in 1956 when purchased by Roen Steamship Company. It was eventually sold, but the tug now carries the Roen colors and has been outfitted to appear much as it did while operated by Roen in the 1950’s and ‘60s. Capt. John Roen, company owner, renamed the tug in honor of his long-time employee and general manager.

The cost of the tour is included in the $12.50 admission fee to the museum or is also offered separately for $6.

The Museum is located at 120 N. Madison Ave. between the two downtown bridges on Sturgeon Bay’s West Side. For more information call 920.743.5958 or visit www.dcmm.org

Daniel J. Morrell a watercolor by Charles Peterson 20 x 14

Dennis Hale, subject of the book “Sole Survivor” and author of the recently released autobiography “Reflections of the Sole Survivor,” will be the featured speaker. The program begins at 7 pm.

Hale’s program was originally scheduled for the Museum but ticket sales exceeded seating capacity, prompting the move to the church which is located just down the street from the Museum at 340 W. Maple Street.

“Hale’s is a remarkable story and we wanted to make the presentation available to as many people as we could,” says Bob Desh, the museum’s executive director.

Hale’s ordeal remains one of the most remarkable shipwreck survival stories on record. As the steamship Daniel J. Morrell was torn apart by 30-foot waves and 60 mile-per-hour winds on the evening of Nov. 29, 1966, Hale was cast into the frigid waters of Lake Huron. He was clad only in a life jacket, pea coat and his underwear. He survived two nights and 38 hours in all on a life raft while three shipmates perished before his eyes. He was the only survivor of a crew of 29.

Unlike the other free programs that have preceded it in the series, tickets must be purchased for Hale’s program.  Despite the expanded seating that Bay View provides, a limited number of tickets will be available. Tickets sell for $5 for Museum members and $12 for non-members and are available by contacting the Maritime Museum at 920.743.5958 or visiting the Museum at 120 N. Madison Ave. in Sturgeon Bay. It appears that tickets will be available at the door.

For more information call 920.743.5958 or visit www.dcmm.org.

Writer, filmmaker, and producer Daniel Larson, responsible for the popular Keepers of the Door series, will be on hand to present his documentary. He will discuss the 7-year process of its creation and to answer audience questions. Guitarist Dan Weaver, who composed and recorded the music score for the film, will also be in attendance.

Between 1875 and 1896, nine U.S. Life-Saving Stations were completed along Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan coast, stretching from Kenosha to Plum Island in Death’s Door Passage. Staffed by a Keeper and a seven-man crew, these “storm warriors” saved countless mariners wrecked along the shore. Seven years in the making, this 59-minute documentary tells the story of their sacrifice and bravery.

Larson has spent the past several years traveling the Lake Michigan coast of Wisconsin shooting and documenting what remains of the United States Life-Saving Service. The result is a comprehensive video that includes such topics as the Sturgeon Bay Station’s rescue of the schooner Otter’s crew, the Service’s role in the loss of the Christmas Tree ship, the 1913 winter storm’s impact on the Plum Island Station and much more.

The Premiere screening is being held in the Reddin Bridge Room at the Door County Maritime Museum, 120 North Madison Avenue, Sturgeon Bay. Admission is free to Museum members, $7.50 for non-members. Museum galleries will be open for extended hours that evening. Seating is first-come, first-served.