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Most recent photo of USS Edson was taken by Brian Barton at the Naval Inactive Ship Facility in Philadelphia.

USS Edson to Journey Here Through Quebec, As Soon As EPA Sounds the Bell

What's The Holdup? EPA Standards for PCBs Aboard Museum Ships Were Raised

May 2, 2009       8 Comments
By: Dave Rogers

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The "old salts" are getting excited like Popeye drooling at the sight of a can of spinach.

Some former crew members of the destroyer USS Edson can't wait to have the ship in Bay City, and some have already offered to "tie her up."

Recent completion of an environmental assessment of the battleship USS Wisconsin in Norfolk, Virginia, is considered by local Edson Museum officials as a positive intermediary step toward imminent approval for the Edson by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Questions have arisen about why the Edson was not immediately approved for its Bay City location since the ship was for years docked at the Intrepid Air-Sea-Space Museum in New York City. As such, it was host to thousands of visitors each year.

Mike Kegley (kegley@chartermi.net), president of the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum, says: "The reason that the ship's PCB's are no longer in the EPA's limits is that they changed their standard. The ship was tested by the Navy in 2004 and all were in the EPA's limits. Once they lowered the limit, the ship no longer complied."

Now that the Navy and the EPA have reached agreement on an acceptable standard of PCBs, local museum officials feel much of the red tape has been stripped away. Now the Bay City group can adapt to whatever PCB standards are currently in place.

Plans to reinforce mooring piers on the river are in the works in anticipation of the ship's arrival yet this season, according to museum officials.

The parking lot and other facilities around the site near the Bay County Independence Bridge boat launch are being readied. Plans for handling crowds and getting volunteers to help with maintenance are ramping up.

A "weather eye" is being kept by the local group on diesel fuel prices that are a big part of the cost of towing the vessel here from Philadelphia. Sufficient funds are on hand for the approximately $500,000 cost of towing but a spike in diesel prices could change matters fast. Efforts are being made to obtain some or all of the fuel by donation from large oil wholesale firms, according to Richard Janke, SVNSM vice-president.

According to a study done by Certec, Inc., Lexington, Kentucky, tourism consulting firm, "the addition of the proposed USS Edson to Bay City will have a major impact on the economy of the area." Certec estimates the Edson Museum when located in Bay City is expected to attract the following number of visitors: Year 1--43,000; Year 2 -- 61,000; Year 3 -- 83,000.

Admission fees, as estimated by Certec, will be $6 per adult and $3 for children in Year 1, with the adult fees increasing .25 cents per year for each of the next two years. Discounted fees will be available for students and large groups.

Certec concluded:

"To succeed it will be essential to establish a long-range marketing strategy to keep visitors coming back once they have been to the USS Edson. This requires adding new product from year to year, either new displays or programs or both. The successful execution of this long-range strategy will also aid Bay City tourism in the development of its brand image around the maritime-related sites in the community. This intangible by-product of the USS Edson's re-location to Bay City could lead to social and economic benefits to the area far beyond those being measured in the current project."

The Edson is viewed by Certec "as a positive development for tourism in Bay City. It will fill a hole in the current product offerings of the community.

Old salts from the Edson are gathering round via the Internet to cheer on the effort:

Dave Kosek (dkosek@yahoo.com)comments: "Was ht2,onboard 1982-1983.great lakes cruise 1983.

Mike Wilkerson,SKCS (Ret) (WILKERSON946@AOL.COM) says: "On board the EDSON from 2/71 to 2/72. Reported as a Seaman(SN) and left as a SK3. The EDSON was a great and proud ship with a great crew (Officers, Chiefs and Enlisted)."

Neil Huffine (cnhuffine@comcast.net) writes: "She was my first ship sept 66 in the yards in dry dock at Hunters Point San Francisco in Jan we were on are way to Viet Nam I believe May 27 of '66 we got hit off the DMZ South Viet Nam. She was a good ship with good people."

Tony Robles (honmatt07@yahoo.com) writes: "Great news about the prospects of getting the Edson to Bay City as a memorial. I served on Edson 65-67, Did graphics/printing for her Reunion in San Diego, CA. I'm working on story of my life on 946, was a QM so I have alot of info on her operations of that period since I manned the "Battle Log" during our many gun fights along NVN coast. Hope to compare notes with anyone who remembers the more than 10+ gunfights we had with shore batteries up above Cap Lay."

Steve Henson (steveid1@netzero.net) writes to the Edson website guest book: "I was onboard her from 1963-1967. I was in second Div. as a gunners-mate. I went from a sn. to e/4. Was mount captain of mount 32, with Benny Glover, then there was red dog. Hope to hear from all. thanks for the memories."

Neil Huffine (cnhuffine@comcast.net)comments "I was a shipmate on board 1966-67, would like to stay updated on her movement."

William M. Crabtree (wmclcc@swva.net) writes: "I served on the Edson from 1963 to 1965. It was a good ship."

Dean Burkhalter (daburkhalter@earthlink.net) comments: "Looking forward to seeing the Edson again. I was ships company from 77-80 when she was home-ported in Newport R.I. Departed her in Jan 80 just before she went to Boston for overhaul. Left as FTG1 LPO for FOX Div. Had lots of got times in Newport."

Phil Ingram (philmary84@aol.com) writes: "I hope the ship finds a good home at SVNSM. I served in her Dec 84 through Dec 87 as COMMO/EMO and then as A&E/DCA. Had the pleasure of serving under the best ship driver in the navy - then CDR Almy, the last CO. Visited the ship a few times in NYC, and hope to do so again in Michigan.

The Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum (SVNSM) started looking at the USS Edson DD-946 in August of 2003, recalled Mr. Kegley.

Three members of the committee took a trip to the USS Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, in New York City, to take a look at the Edson to see if this ship was the one for Bay City, Michigan.

Their conclusion? "The trip proved that the Edson was the ship for our project," Mr. Kegley added.

In the fall of 2003, the Edson was returned to the Navy by Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum. Before the Navy would accept the ship, they had to put the ship in dry dock to have the hull inspected. After the ship was x-rayed and an ultrasound of the hull was performed, it was found that the ship needed extensive plate replacement in her hull. The total bill for the restoration of the hull came to over $800,000.

When the dry docking period ended, the ship was towed to the former Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard to await a successful application for donation.

All the time Edson was in dry dock, the SVNSM was working on the completion of its application for Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). NAVSEA declared the application as meeting the necessary requirements in September 19, 2008.

While working on the application, SVNSM acquired a mooring site in Bangor Township, several acres located on the Saginaw River adjacent to the City of Bay City, Michigan. The site already had a mooring dock that needed to be refurbished. With the help of local trade unions, the pier was made ready for the ship. The Iron Workers, Plumbers, Carpenters, Electricians and Painters Unions donated their time and materials to make this project happen. The only cost to the museum was for deck screws and drill bits.

"If we would have had to pay for all the work and materials that was done, it would have cost around $250,000," said Mr. Kegley. "As it was, it only cost just over $800."

The next part of the project called for installing a roadway and parking lot. A local contractor donated equipment. All the museum had to pay for was the labor and fuel for the equipment. "This saved us a tremendous amount of money," Mr. Kegley said. Once the parking lot and roadway was installed, a local landscaper came in and planted grass and sprayed for weeds.

Now that the SVNSM has a mooring site and a successful application, we are waiting for the EPA and the Navy to come to an agreement on PCBs that are present on the ship. After the agreement, the application goes to The Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) and Congress for the final approval.

Once SECNAV signs the ship over to SVNSM, the ship will be towed from Philadelphia to Quebec City, Quebec. There the ship will be transferred from ocean going tugs to Great Lakes tugs and towed through the seaway to Bay City for its final mooring. The trip is expected to take six to eight weeks, towing twenty four hours a day, to make the journey to our mooring site.

The big question is: Will all the cogs fall into place for the Edson's trip to Bay City yet this marine season? Late fall would be the last period of time such a voyage could be anticipated, experts said. And the nervous old salts of the Edson really want this to be the year the ship arrives.

Information can be obtained on the SVNSM's web site: www.ussedson.org or by calling the ship's office at: (989) 684-3946. The ships e-mail address is: vipuss946@sbcglobal.net.

Donations can be made by mailing your check made payable to "SVNSM" and mail to: 3727 E. Wilder Road, Suite B, Bay City, MI 48706-2367.

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"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers!

dmaillette Says:       On May 03, 2009 at 09:18 PM
Thanks again, Dave! Let us hope for summer arrival. We've worked long and hard.
an observer says:       On May 03, 2009 at 11:53 PM
I look forward to the Edson's arrival, really I do.

But can anyone actually believe the study by Lexington, Kentucky, tourism consulting firm Certec, Inc.? They are quoted as saying:

the Edson Museum when located in Bay City is expected to attract the following number of visitors: Year 1--43,000; Year 2 -- 61,000; Year 3 -- 83,000.

Did anyone actually LOOK at those numbers? Simple math says that the low estimate is 118 people A DAY, 365 days a year.

If the boat is open 8 hours a day that's about 15 people an hour.

If the boat is open six months a year that becomes 30 people an hour.

By year 3 estimates that would mean 57 people an hour, seven days a week.

I think they're going to need a bigger parking lot and a lot more porta-potties!
Anonymous Says:       On May 04, 2009 at 08:33 AM
This Edson project is just another "money pit" supported by a handful of historical "snobs" looking to leave some kind of "mark" for posterity.
Boondoggle says:       On May 04, 2009 at 08:41 AM
Wikipedia says --- Boondoggle (project)-- term for a scheme that wastes time and money.

How much money has been spent on this rustbucket already?
dghardeman Says:       On May 04, 2009 at 09:36 AM
I believe that this addition would increase the tourism to Bay City, MI. The ship USS Edson would display another type of floating vessel that many adults and children who have never seen before. It is an honor to watch the progress of a committee and the volunteers to make such a worth while project arrive on our shore in Bay City.

Keep up the great work,
MS1, U. S. Navy Retired
kegley Says:       On May 05, 2009 at 07:45 AM
Great article Dave. Thanks for helping spread the word about this project to preserve the great ship building past of Bay City and to honor the Sailors that served on these great ship. The National Historic Landmark will be a great addition to our community.
mgaken9517 Says:       On May 08, 2009 at 08:33 AM
I hope it come this year. Looking forward to touring the ship.
fwiggles Says:       On May 11, 2009 at 02:44 PM
I served on the USS EDSON DD 946 From May 1969 - Dec 1973. I made three WEST-PAC cruises on her. I got to see alot of the world on her, and have a lot of great tails about her. FTG2 Wiggles USS EDSON DD 946 1969-1973
Agree? or Disagree?


Dave Rogers

Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
(Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

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