THE S.S. CATALINA REMOVED FROM THE ENSENADA HARBOR

As you entered Ensenada Harbor in the past you would have seen a curious sight to starboard that may have shivered your timbers. Half submerged and arising from the harbor mud was the carcass of a once proud ferry that served the run between California ports and Catalina in times past. For more than 20 years this navigation hazard kept vigilance on the busy port activities in Ensenada Harbor. Brought to Ensenada 26 years prior to serve as an entertainment center and gambling casino, the historic ship had been the subject of controversy for many years and now has been removed by the Port of Ensenada.

She was the million dollar steamship, in the days when a million dollars was a lot of money. She was built with chewing gum, or more correctly of steel, bought with the profits from a chewing gum empire created by Mr. William Wrigley, Jr., who happened to own an island about 24 miles off the coast of Southern California called Santa Catalina. The only major town on the island was Avalon, an almost Mediterranean-like setting, far removed from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, on the other side of the San Pedro Channel. By the 1920's, tourism to the island was booming, thanks in part to a strong economy and Mr. Wrigley's various enterprises on the island, including a training camp for his Chicago Cubs baseball team, and his own steamship line known as the Wilmington Transportation Company.

The new steamship S.S Catalina, was built in 1924 to provide additional capacity and more elegant transportation to the island. William Wrigley Jr., himself laid the keel on December 26, 1923 at the yards of the Los Angeles Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. Situated in the heart of Los Angeles harbor, this location later became the Todd Shipyard. The new ship was designated hull number 42. After a quick construction period the new vessel was ready to take to the water for the first time. Named for the island which she would serve, the S.S. Catalina was launched on May 3, 1924, by Miss Marcia A. Patrick, the daughter of Joseph Patrick, president of the Santa Catalina Island Company. The Mayor of Los Angeles, along with 3,000 other people were on hand to witness the event. A little over eight weeks later the ship commenced her maiden voyage from Wilmington, California to Avalon on June 30th, under the command of Captain A. A. Morris. Few on that first voyage could have envisioned that 25 million people would follow them onto those same decks, enjoying a 2 hour cruise to Catalina Island during an active career of 51 years!

The S.S. Catalina holds the honor of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. But unlike the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum or the Mission San Fernando Rey, which share these accolades, the S.S. Catalina carried 25 million passengers in her heyday, and ferried more troops in World War II than any other military transport. A 2006 panga ride around the 302-foot-long, 52-foot wide vessel found much of the vessel's port railing stripped away, revealing a bizarre sight of sea lions bellied up to the U-shaped wooden bar where passengers once gathered to sip cocktails. Imagine the luminaries that once walked these decks!

Video produced by http://www.truetraveler.com/

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[sandoval10]

Oh what memories. I remember taking my girlfriend to Catalina on the Great White Steamer once. It was a majastic and grand ship. She's now my wife of 42 years.

[SITKASAILS]

@sandoval10 ~ you closed the deal on a keeper!

[Pookachell]

My Grandfather Charles Richard Beal was the Chief Engineer on the SS Catalina and he was an advocate for getting the SS Catalina out of Ensenada and bringing her home. Sadly he died before seeing that happen.

[SITKASAILS]

@Pookachell - that is the most important position on a steamer... its a shame they did not save her...

[borderraven]

SS CATALINA was probably the first ship I sailed on. Grandma took my older brother and I to Catalina for a day. Catalina Cappy the clown kept us kids entertained.

[skot66]

What a waste.... Good Job California for letting your history slip away from you yet again.....

[Robkat3751]

@skot66 It wasn't california, it was a a few private owners who let the Catalina end up abandoned in Ensenada. After she sank in the harbor she was gone and nobody was going to make the effort to save her.

[catalinaluvr]

My father was a Merchant Marine and worked on the 'Avalon' ship. Later, taking me there on this beautiful ship. It's so sad.. both the ship unions and Catalina worked against this ship. The unions wanting several to work each job position and Catalina for wanting it out of the bay, so they could make more money on private boats. Some things don't last forever, my memories will.

[borntofish]

@skot66

Just what would you suggest "Catalina" should have done?

Do you realize the The S.S. Catalina was owned and operated by a mainland based company?

Easy to sit on the side line and criticize something you obviously know nothing about.

[hedablinka]

What makes the loss more galling is that while California couldn't be interested in saving this one steamer, Detroit is set to save one and possibly two even older steamers--the Columbia and Ste Claire--and Detroit is a city that talks openly of downsizing--tearing down and shrinking itself.