… the former Coast Guard cutter that was built in Duluth in 1943 and served many years here before retiring into the tourist business. Happily, very happily, Jeff plans to maintain the Sundew’s presence in the Twin Ports. Here he is checking out his new purchase on February 15th. He plans to start working on the ship in the beginning of April so he can take her out of her home for the last 5 years and put her back in the Twin Ports waters again. He is not sure yet what is in store for the future, but being seen a lot in the Twin Ports is very much a part of the plan. (Pictures from the Sundew’ past)
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Watch the Sundew come into Duluth port July 26, 2011. Looks to me Mr. Foster did a great job of getting her up and running. Hope he keeps it up.
WORKED IN THE ENGINE ROOM OF THIS SHIP FOR ALMOST A FULL YEAR. USE TO GIVE TOURS DURING THE SLOW TIME OF SUMMER. REMEMBERED AT LEAST ONE SIGN ON THE SHIP, PERHAPS TWO, THAT THIS SHIP WAS BUILT IN DULUTH IN THE YEAR 1944. ABOVE STATES 1943. LOOKS LIKE IF IT WAS TRULY BUILT IN 1943, THEY WOULD NOT ERECT SIGNS ON THE SHIP THAT IT WAS BUILT IN 1944. SUPPOSE THIS DOES NOT MATTER TO MOST, BUT TO SOMEONE WHO SERVED ON THE SHIP, IT DOES MATTER. HOPE THE SKIPPER CAPTAIN J. V. ONEIL IS STILL TICKING.
STATIONED ABOARD THIS SHIP ’76 AND ’77. MISSED BEING ONBOARD. I WAS A SIMPLE FIREMAN APPRENTICE WHO WOULD RATHER BE UP ON DECK, INSTEAD OF BELOW DECK. REMEMBER QUITE WELL WHEN A VERY TOUGH LOOKING FIRST CLASS NAMED “TINY” REDICULED THOSE WHO COULD NOT TAKE WAVES OF SIX FOOT OR MORE. THEN ONE DAY, WHEN THE SHIP WAS TAKING ON THREE FOOT WAVES, TINY GOT SICK HIMSELF. REMEMBER WHEN THE SHIP WAS BEING SWITCHED AT THE BALTIMORE SHIP YARDS FOR THE CUTTER MESQUITE. THE SUNDEW SUFFERED MINOR DAMAGE BY UNDERESTIMATING BRIDGE HEIGHT WE HAD TO GO UNDER. TOOK OFF SOME OF OUR COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT. PRIOR TO THIS THOUGH, SUNDEW HAD TO TAKE ON A NORTH ATLANTIC STORM WITH THIRTY FOOT WAVES. REMEMBER BEING ON THE CONTROL DECK LOOKING OUT. LOOKED AS IF I COULD PLACE A COFFEE CUP OUTSIDE AND CAPTURE A CUP OF OCEAN. ALOT OF PEOPLE GOT SICK. BELIEVE I HEARD THE CAPTAIN EVEN GOT SICK. I WAS ALRIGHT THE FIRST DAY, BUT THE SECOND DAY, I WANTED TO DIE. TRIED CRACKERS BUT THIS DID NOT WORK. REMEMBER LAYING SICK AT THE BOTTOM OF STEPS LEADING UP TO THE CONTROL DECK, SEVERAL OFFICERS HAD TO STEP OVER ME. BEST MEMORY WAS ICEBREAKING AT NIGHT IN ONE OF THE GREAT LAKES. SNOW FLYING AND IN FRONT OF THE SHIP, LOOKED LIKE A LARGE WHITE FLOOR. MISS OUR HOMEPORT OF CHARLEVOIX, MICHIGAN.
I WORKED ON THE IRVIN THE BIG RED SHIP I AM FRIENDS WITH HIM AND I GOT A RIDE ON THE SUNDEW FROM DULUTH TO TWO HARBORS AND BACK WE LEFT 12:00 AND GOT BACK AT 10:30
I served on it from December 1975 to March 1976. I was pretty old school even then. Nice to see it’s till around.
The Woodrush was stationed inDuluth longer then theSundew,it should have stayed in Duluth instead of going to Sitka Alaska.
Ex engineman 2nd. class from the Woodrush, Jan. 57 untill Oct. 58
I served on the Sundew 2/49-9/49 as a second class petty officer {machinist] after returning from duty in the so. pacific. [Iwo Jima, guam etc] I sure would like to have a ride on the ol’ sundew again! The area we covered was from Holland up thru the upper paninsula of Mi. and on down to Milwakee which was our home port. We were in dry-dock in Manitowak for a change of screw from 3 blades to a 5 blades, so that what we couldn’t “bull” our way thru, we could do a 180 and “chew” our way thru the ice. I was dischaged after 3 years and one day of service while were moored at Escnaba,Mi. I worked on the Cooper-Bessemer mains and the GE prime movers that furnished ship’s power. Good duty, and sea stories abound!
Mr. Foster purchased the vessel at auction. It was sold due to the lack of people paying to tour her. With her upkeep, and possibly a slow economy, the city was losing $$$ and had no choice but to let her go. But Mr. Foster will keep her in good shape and running around the Twin Ports. This is the best-case scenario IMO.
I am glad that it is not going in the scrap yard.
I am confused by this story. When we were up there last summer the Sundew was next to the Irvine for tours. Are you saying this ship is going to leave this spot and do something else now? Not very clear to this reader! Thanks!
Good. I hope that tourists will be able to "participate" in having it nearby.