From 1941 to 1945, the South Portland coast along Casco Bay
was radically transformed to accommodate two bustling shipyards
responsible for building cargo vessels during World War II. Aroundmaine.com
presents Part I in a multimedia series on the history of Portland's
Liberty Ship Era. In our first installment, we provide a historical
background of the ship with a photo essay, courtesy of the archives
at the Portland
Harbor Museum.
The Liberty ship legacy actually begins more than two centuries
ago in Richmond, Virginia's, St. John's church. It was March 23rd,
1775 when American patriot, Patrick Henry delivered an impassioned
speech made famous by his closing appeal, "I know not what
course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give
me death!" These immortal words were repeated by Franklin
Delano Roosevelt upon the launching of the SS Patrick Henry in
1941. From this point forward, the 2,710 ships of its kind were
simply known as the Liberty ships.
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These "cargo carrying key(s) to victory," as FDR described
them, have a rich and complex history here in Portland. The original
east shipyard on South Portland's Cushing Point was the first
of two yards dedicated to the construction of these ocean-bound
work horses. With the adddition of a west yard, Portland was responsible
for the construction of 244 ships - approximately 9 percent of
all Liberty
ships used in World War II.
The feverish pace of ship production was in response to the tonnage
war being waged at sea by the Germans. In 1941, only 4,000 tons
of war ships were produced for every 9,000 tons sunk by the enemy.
In order to build ships faster than the enemy could sink them,
FDR organized this unprecedented emergency shipbuilding program.
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| "We have astonished
the whole world and confounded our enemies with our stupendous
war production, with the overwhelming courage and skill of
our fighting men - with the bridge of ships carrying our munitions
and men through the seven seas - with our gigantic fleet which
has pounded the enemy all over the Pacific and has just driven
through for another touchdown." -- from Franklin Delano
Roosevelt's campaign address on October 28, 1944 at Soldiers'
Field, Chicago, Illinois. |
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| The British Were Coming!
 On
December 20, 1940, the British Purchasing Company signed documents that
would initiate a shipbuilding renaissance on the site of the old Cumberland
Shipyards, now home to Spring Point Marina. Within one year, the first
two 'Ocean' type ships were floated to the outfitting pier for completion.
By the Spring of 1941, the west yard took shape and launched the first
Liberty ship in May of the following year. The Liberty's design closely
resembled that of Britain's Ocean model, with slight modifications; including
the adoption of water-tube boilers, oil burners and a rearrangement of
crew accommodations. |
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Liberty Ship by the Numbers
Length: 441'6"
Beam: 56' 10 3/4"
Draft: 27' 9 1/4 "
Deadweight Tonnage: 10,920
Gross Tonnage: approx. 7,500
Displacement Tonnage: 14,257
Top Speed: 11 knots
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Until 1942, the east and west yards were managed separately; Todd-Bath
Corporation ran the east, the South Portland Shipbuilding Corporation
(under the supervision of the U.S. Maritime Commission) ran the west.
After the the British contract was fulfilled, both operations began working
as one unit known as the New England Shipbuilding Corporation.
Working in tandem as one corporation ended rigid legal conditions differentiating
the management of the yards and allowed a more streamlined approach
to ship construction, increasing productivity and hastening the
progress of ship launches to aid the allied war effort. |
Identification badge
belonging to burner,
Arthur Denis of
Westbrook, ME |
30,000 Strong
Lacking the modern conveniences of today's shipbuilding industry,
constructing the Liberty required an enormous amount of manual
labor. Of course, for the time period, the modern factory techniques
at the New England Shipbuilding Corporation were a far cry from
the old fashioned industry that dominated boatyards along the
coast of Maine.
Ultimately, the two shipyards would employ 30,000 Mainers to build and
sail the Liberty ships. Employees consisted of both men and women from
all walks of life including teachers, butchers, artists, housewives
and men disqualified from military service. The majority of workers
were completely unskilled as welders, burners, shipfitters, electricians,
painters, etc. The success of the campaign, despite the lack of skilled
labor, was largely due to the combined teamwork of these dedicated individuals. |
| "Nevertheless the greenhorns
were hired--they had to be because there wasn't anybody else.
And the speed and efficiency with which the yard came into
being is a high tribute to the ability of these inexperienced
greenhorns to make good in a big job...Certainly it is this
very teamwork and enthusiastic spirit which has infused utterly
inexperienced help from every walk of life to tackle new and
strange jobs that has won our battle on the production front."
-- Jones, Herbert. Portland Ships Are Good Ships. Portland,
Maine: Machigonne Press, 1945. |
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Please click on any of the images below to launch the photo essay for
more information on this extraordinary era in Portland's history. All
the images herein are courtesy of the archives at the Portland
Harbor Museum.
story by Scott
Baker
online editor, aroundmaine.com
2002
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