USS CONSTITUTION - 44 Gun - "Old Ironsides" -
Charleston Navy Yard, Massachusetts - 21 October, 1797 ...
Oldest Commissioned Naval Vessel Afloat in The World!
USS CONGRESS - 38 Gun -
? - 15 August, 1799 ...
First US Warship Ever in China!
USS CHESAPEAKE - 36 Gun - Smallest of Six -
Gosport Navy Yard, Virginia - 2 December, 1799 ...
Only Ship Named by Secretary of The Navy,
Benjamin Stoddert, disregarding prior Protocol ...
All Five Others Represented a Principle
Of The U.S. Constitution,
Named by President George Washington!
USS PRESIDENT - 44 Gun - Last One!
New York City - 10 April, 1800 ...
Captain Stephen Decatur Surrendered to Royal Navy -
HMS Endymion - Broken Up in 1818.
There have been Three US Navy Vessels Named:
USS CONSTELLATION ...
After 56 Years of Impressive Service ...
The First was Struck in 1853 and Broken Up!
Some Timbers were Re-used in the Building of
The Second Ship - US Sloop-of-War Constellation.
Constructed at Norfolk Navy Yard - 28 July, 1855.
Many Years Later,
This lead to the Uncertainty over ...
Which Ship was Preserved in Baltimore ...
Until Proven in 1999 to be The Second Constellation!
(1854-1955)
The Third Ship Bearing this Prestigious Name
Is The USS CONSTELLATION Aircraft Carrier CV-64 ...
(1960-2003) - Nick-Named 'Connie"
New York Naval Ship Yard - 27 October 1961.
MOTTO:
"Spirit of The Old, Pride of The New"
"America's Flagship"
When the Second was In Drydock for Repairs
In 1955-1968, in Fairfield, Maryland,
At The Maryland Shipbuilding & Drydock Company,
My Dad was a First-Class Rigger,
Working there at the time.
While the Hull was being Reconditioned,
He took the Time and Pains to Pick up Pieces
From the Dock, gathering Several Hundreds
Of Antique Copper Nails and Pieces of Copper Plating.
Dad Saved these inside a Cardboard Cigar Box ...
King Edward's that Cost Six Cents Apiece at the Time.
Through the Years, both He and I have ...
Given Away Many of Them as Mementoes to People.
I STILL HAVE SEVERAL OF THESE ...
Little Pieces of American History ...
Most are Encrusted, Green with Oxidation ...
Perhaps One Day I'll Check with ...
The Maryland Historical Society ...
Maybe They Can Carbon-Date Them?
ARE THEY WORTH ANY REAL MONEY?
(C) - TKH.
FOOT-NOTE:
If you are a History or Naval Buff ...
There is a Very Thorough Site -
Which also includes an Informative Video ...
That Explains in Great Detail Some of these Notable Ships:
Enjoyed this since I am a History Buff, and I remember King Edward Cigars, too - my Dad used to smoke them (and I'd steal one out of the box every now and then.)
A great article… Poet! I don't get down to the sea often, so the closest thing I've seen is the 1949 folkboat (all wood) I almost bought.
I like the part where “the Hull was being reconditioned.” Thanks, I sure needed that.
I have a breadbox circa 1900 that has the USS Constitution painted beautifully on the top. My grandfather used it for a toolbox and it was the only thing of his that I inherited. I used the tools––and lost them all––many years ago while working on my 1935 Ford hot rod. The breadbox now occupies a space on my fireplace hearth in the living room. I haven't been able to find any other breadbox like it. I too, wonder what it's worth.
Very interesting. I used to hear my brother (deceased) who was in the Navy talk about a lot of these old ships. I've been to Mystic Conn. to see some of the old tall ships. Amazing! Thank you.
If you think you know Delaware, think again. Pirates? Quakers fighting with Pennsylvania? Towns so ugly no one would settle there? With stunning pictures and straightforward storytelling, Dave Tabler opens hidden passages and describes defining momen
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A great article… Poet! I don't get down to the sea often, so the closest thing I've seen is the 1949 folkboat (all wood) I almost bought.
I like the part where “the Hull was being reconditioned.” Thanks, I sure needed that.
I have a breadbox circa 1900 that has the USS Constitution painted beautifully on the top. My grandfather used it for a toolbox and it was the only thing of his that I inherited. I used the tools––and lost them all––many years ago while working on my 1935 Ford hot rod. The breadbox now occupies a space on my fireplace hearth in the living room. I haven't been able to find any other breadbox like it. I too, wonder what it's worth.
Ron
budd
Love ya!
Jane