The New York Landmarks Conservancy and the John J. Harvey Historic Fireboat had a captivating special tour recently of the New York Harbor on the (retired) fireboat John J. Harvey. On the National Register, this fireboat was built in 1931 and named for the FDNY pilot who was killed aboard fireboat Thomas Willett while fighting a fire aboard the North German Lloyd Line's SS Muenchen. Whom You Know was thrilled to participate.
At 130 feet and 268 gross tons, she is among the most powerful fireboats ever in service, capable of pumping up to 18,000 gallons of water a minute. Harvey assisted during such notable fires as the Cunard Line pier fire in 1932, the burning of the Normandie in 1942, and the ammunition ship El Estero during World War II. She served the FDNY until her retirement in 1994. On September 11, 2001, John J. Harvey was reactivated as FDNY Marine 2. Alongside FDNY fireboats Firefighter (a National Historic Landmark) and John D. McKean, she pumped water for 80 hours, until water mains were restored. Her engine room, which is available for tours before the trip, is one of the most intact and complex in the nation.
John J. Harvey is an ongoing restoration project undertaken by Save Our Ships New York, a chartered not-for profit. That restoration has been assisted by grants from the New York Landmarks Conservancy, the New York State Environmental Protection Bond Act, a federal Save America’s Treasures Grant, and grants from the Hudson River Foundation, as well as some 400 private supporters.
Sights on the tour included: Battery Park/World Trade Center, Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty, Red Hook, Governors Island, Brooklyn Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge.
(John J. Harvey is an Uninspected Vessel and therefore is not certified by the US Coast Guard for the carriage of passengers for hire. All trips on John J. Harvey are free.)
Here are pictures that Peachy Deegan took on the tour:
Photography by Peachy Deegan
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New York Landmarks Conservancy: