~ Building Sloop "Welcome" ~
(Mackinaw City MI)
Occupation Outside Chandler Township
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Most posted items will enlarge by "clicking" on them.
"Clicking" on some highlighted words may access additional information.
Please do not copy the photos on this site, many of which have been submitted by private individuals...
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
The 1974 article directly below, and several of the articles and photos below related to Ken Starr
working on the building of the Sloop "Welcome"
were authored, and submitted to this website, by Rick Wiles who also worked on the building of the Sloop "Welcome".
Ken Starr lived for many years in Chandler Township Charlevoix County on Howard Road.
~ People Connected With Building the Replica of the Sloop Welcome ~
David Armour (Assistant Superintendent of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission Staff)
Evan Bassett (Made the smaller of two yardarms, and helped to "Step the Mast")
Rick Beemon (Carpenter)
Mary Coleman (Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court Christened the Sloop "Welcome")
John Cowell (Ironworker)
Michelle De Rush (Sewed a suit of Sails for Sloop "Welcome")
Ellwanger, Phillip ?
Frederick S. Ford, Jr. (Naval Architect) ~ 1924-2014
Chester "Chet" Hard (Help with Technical Aspects)
Mrs. Helen Harrow Keppleman (Fifth Generation Descendant of the Captain of the Original Sloop "Welcome")
Victor Hogg (Interpretive Development Planning)
Dean Lewis (Carpenter, and helped to "Step the Mast")
John McCutcheon (Made the larger of two yardarms, and helped to "Step the Mast")
Ted McCutcheon Sr. (Supervisor of Welcome Reconstruction)
Ted McCutcheon Jr. (Model Builder of Replica of Sloop "Welcome")
Dave Overholt (Helped to "Step the Mast")
Dr. Eugene Peterson (Director of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission Staff)
Diana Phail (Carving and decoration on the Transom)
Diana Phail's Husband (Helped to "Step the Mast")
Reverend Raymond Provost (Blessing of the Sloop "Welcome")
Mark Rondel (Carpenter)
Sheldon Smith (Chairman of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission)
Ken Starr (Carpenter)
Rick Wiles (Novice "Loftsman" or Marker on the Project)
Keith Wood (Design)
working on the building of the Sloop "Welcome"
were authored, and submitted to this website, by Rick Wiles who also worked on the building of the Sloop "Welcome".
Ken Starr lived for many years in Chandler Township Charlevoix County on Howard Road.
~ People Connected With Building the Replica of the Sloop Welcome ~
David Armour (Assistant Superintendent of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission Staff)
Evan Bassett (Made the smaller of two yardarms, and helped to "Step the Mast")
Rick Beemon (Carpenter)
Mary Coleman (Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court Christened the Sloop "Welcome")
John Cowell (Ironworker)
Michelle De Rush (Sewed a suit of Sails for Sloop "Welcome")
Ellwanger, Phillip ?
Frederick S. Ford, Jr. (Naval Architect) ~ 1924-2014
Chester "Chet" Hard (Help with Technical Aspects)
Mrs. Helen Harrow Keppleman (Fifth Generation Descendant of the Captain of the Original Sloop "Welcome")
Victor Hogg (Interpretive Development Planning)
Dean Lewis (Carpenter, and helped to "Step the Mast")
John McCutcheon (Made the larger of two yardarms, and helped to "Step the Mast")
Ted McCutcheon Sr. (Supervisor of Welcome Reconstruction)
Ted McCutcheon Jr. (Model Builder of Replica of Sloop "Welcome")
Dave Overholt (Helped to "Step the Mast")
Dr. Eugene Peterson (Director of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission Staff)
Diana Phail (Carving and decoration on the Transom)
Diana Phail's Husband (Helped to "Step the Mast")
Reverend Raymond Provost (Blessing of the Sloop "Welcome")
Mark Rondel (Carpenter)
Sheldon Smith (Chairman of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission)
Ken Starr (Carpenter)
Rick Wiles (Novice "Loftsman" or Marker on the Project)
Keith Wood (Design)
A 30 May 1778 letter (pages 365-366) from Major De Pyster, Commanding at Michilimackinac to General Carleton
told of the necessity of the "Sloop Welcome" to guard the Fort.
By September of 1970, before the keel was ever laid for the Sloop Welcome, Ted McCutcheon and Fred Ford, Jr. had already formed a relationship for building boats. The article below describes how Fred Ford, Jr, a naval architect, had designed a 19 foot Sail Class boat, "Sassy" and Ted McCutcheon had built the sailboat. They later worked together in those same capacities in constructing the Sloop Welcome.
The "Welcome" replica was designed by Frederick Ford Jr. (photo above).
Look toward bottom of this webpage to view photos and text
regarding the 2015 display of Frederick Ford Jr.'s work regarding the Sloop "Welcome".
Once the sloop "Welcome" was designed,
for the purpose of the information on this webpage regarding Ken Starr helping to build the Sloop "Welcome",
the section below of Victor Hogg's report about "The Building of a Ship" is interesting.
The six phases or steps in building a ship are listed below directly from Victor Hogg's report:
Look toward bottom of this webpage to view photos and text
regarding the 2015 display of Frederick Ford Jr.'s work regarding the Sloop "Welcome".
Once the sloop "Welcome" was designed,
for the purpose of the information on this webpage regarding Ken Starr helping to build the Sloop "Welcome",
the section below of Victor Hogg's report about "The Building of a Ship" is interesting.
The six phases or steps in building a ship are listed below directly from Victor Hogg's report:
By May 1971 Victor Hogg (Interpretive Development Planning) had prepared "A study of the feasibility of building wooden ships at Michilimackinac titled A SHIP IN THE WILDERNESS in anticipation of building the Sloop "Welcome". The table of contents included: Preface, Introduction, A Brief History of Shipbuilding on The Great Lakes, The Concept, The Building of a Ship, Shipbuilding as a Visitor Oriented Activity, The Enclosure of the Shipyard, Launching a Vessel at Michilimackinac, The Cost of Building a Ship and a Schedule for its Construction, The Economic Potential of the "Welcome", Persons Interviewed During the Preparation of the Report.
~ ~ THE BUILDING OF A SHIP ~
Two edge photos below: Charlevoix rented Carpenter Street Warehouse ~ March 1973
“Fort MIchilimackinack was splendidly built. Nearly all of the heavy hardwood timbers of the old fort were transported across the Straits on the ‘Welcome,’ a sturdy sailing vessel used in the fur trade, captained by Alex Harrow, another Scotchman who promptly clashed with Sinclair in regard to authority in the region. Sinclair [a Captain who had his own ideas as to how the fort was to be built] as usual, was found to be in the right and the affair eventually was settled with satisfaction to all.”
~ “When Michigan Was Young” by Ethel Rowan Fasquelle (1867-1987) of Petoskey, Michigan, published in 1950 when Fasquelle was 83 years old ~ Page 74
For additional information about the Sloop Welcome at Mackinac City, click HERE.
~ “When Michigan Was Young” by Ethel Rowan Fasquelle (1867-1987) of Petoskey, Michigan, published in 1950 when Fasquelle was 83 years old ~ Page 74
For additional information about the Sloop Welcome at Mackinac City, click HERE.
Compare the postcard photo below with the artist's representation of the vessel "Welcome" in the article above.
Both, the representation, and the reality, show the Sloop Welcome under "Full Sail".
Both, the representation, and the reality, show the Sloop Welcome under "Full Sail".
In 1976 Kenny (in the white hat) Starr's stepdaughter Karla Buckmaster, her husband Sheldon, and children Scott and Stacey, went to Mackinaw City to the State Park area on the beach near the Mackinac Bridge to watch Kenny work on the building of the Sloop Welcome. This reconstruction of the Sloop Welcome was taking place at Ft. Michilimackinac's Maritime Park.
With the construction of the Sloop Welcome taking place at Ft. Michilimackinac's Maritime Park,
Kenny Starr was working in the close vicinity of the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.
Kenny purchased The Danbury Mint Collectible replica of the lighthouse in the photos below.
Kenny Starr was working in the close vicinity of the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse.
Kenny purchased The Danbury Mint Collectible replica of the lighthouse in the photos below.
On 30 June 1977 The Graphic published the following photos
about the status of The Sloop Welcome.
The 29 August 2015 Mackinac Island newspaper Town Crier featured an article about
Dr. Dave Amour, mentioning the Welcome, written by his wife Grace Amour...
"A Moment from Fort Michilimackinac's 250th Anniversary".
Dr. Dave Amour, mentioning the Welcome, written by his wife Grace Amour...
"A Moment from Fort Michilimackinac's 250th Anniversary".
Yardarms
Evan Bassett, worked on the Sloop Welcome as an employee of the McCutcheon Boat Works for a little over three years. Evan's major accomplishment, along with Ted McCutcheon Sr.'s son John McCutcheon, was making the two yardarms. Yardarms are the horizontal spars that hold up the large square sails. Evan created the smaller of the two yardarms, and John made the larger of the two yardarms. Ted McCutcheon Sr. taught Evan and John to make the special marking tool to layout a tapered pole on square stock. They used hand planes mostly, to take the stock piece from 4 to 8, to 16, to 32, and finally to 64 sides before hand finishing.
Karla Howard Buckmaster took the following slides on 16 May 1980, the day of the launching of the Sloop Welcome.
The slides were later digitized by Sheldon Buckmaster in 2014 to be placed on this website.
The slides were later digitized by Sheldon Buckmaster in 2014 to be placed on this website.
Evan Bassett related that the photo below was taken "the day we stepped the mast. That means putting it through the hole in the deck and down to the mast step in the bilge. That's me on the left. Next is Dianna Phail's husband, then Dean, another man from the fort, John McCutcheon, I think the next guy's name is Dave Overholt, and finally Ted McCutcheon.
It's a tradition to put a coin in the mast step under the mast, for good fortune, and as no-one had prepared anything the day we stepped the mast, I brought a .999 fine silver medallion that I thought fit the occasion. Dean however, took a liking to the coin and talked me out of it so the coin I put under the mast ended up being a bi-centennial Quarter which was quite appropriate as the Welcome was a bi-centennial project."
On 21 May 1992 The Graphic published the following article (text and photos)
about the status of The Sloop Welcome.
Photo Above: "Work on the Welcome proceeded in a makeshif Quonset hut."
The three pages of the September 2003 cover story below about "A 'Welcome' reconstruction: Volunteers repair TC sloop" can be viewed larger for reading, by clicking on them. The article was printed in the 'Active Years' supplement to the Record-Eagle.
Public Act 181 of 2006:
Mackinac Island State Park is governed by the seven-member Mackinac Island State Park Commission, appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The commission is created, under law, within the Department of Natural Resources. In 1982, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission launched an 85-foot replica of a 1774 merchant sailing vessel, the Welcome, whose construction had begun as a bicentennial project. (Originally built by a wealthy French fur trader at the Straits, the craft was later converted by the British military to His Majesty's Armed Sloop Welcome, and carried supplies for the British forces during the Revolutionary War era. The Welcome sank in a storm in 1781.) A decade after the replica of the Welcome was launched by the park commission, it fell into considerable disrepair. Declared un-seaworthy, the sloop was transported to Traverse City, where the Maritime Heritage Alliance undertook a 13-year restoration project in which 140 volunteers logged 50,000 hours of effort, replacing virtually every piece of wood in the sloop, including its 65-foot mast. The restored sloop was successfully launched in late June 2005. The Maritime Alliance would now like to purchase the restored sloop to add to its fleet of historically authentic tall ships and other sailing vessels. However, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission is currently prohibited by statute from selling state park assets. Legislation has been introduced that would enable the Mackinac Island State Park Commission to sell property under its control, including among other things the sloop Welcome, under certain conditions. |
The article above suggests viewing a video on YouTube: by searching "Welcome 1 Charlevoix".
Another YouTube video shows a similar time and situation for the Sloop "Welcome".
Another YouTube video shows a similar time and situation for the Sloop "Welcome".
RECONSTRUCTION AND RELAUNCHING
THE REPLICA OF THE SLOOP "WELCOME"
THE REPLICA OF THE SLOOP "WELCOME"
In December of 1992, the Maritime Heritage Alliance in Traverse City MI became the custodian of the Sloop "Welcome" with the primary goal to reconstruct the replica, make her seaworthy, and continue their mission of preserving and interpreting Great Lakes maritime history. On 22 September 2006 the Maritime Heritage Alliance became the owners of the Sloop "Welcome". The website for the Maritime Heritage Alliance reveals a great deal of the more recent history of the Sloop "Welcome", including a video of the relaunch.
While the reconstruction of the replica Sloop "Welcome" was being worked on at grounds of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, Ken Starr's son Lane, granddaughter Karen, son-in-law Sheldon, and step-daughter Karla visited the site to share, with the Maritime Heritage Alliance, original photos that Ken had from the original building of the Sloop "Welcome". This visit was made 8 August 2000. After this location, in 2003, the project moved to the Traverse City Light & Power's Coal Dock in Elmwood Township on M-22.
|
The 25 July 2009 Mackinac Island newspaper Town Crier announced that "Tall Ship Welcome to Return to Straits for St. Ignace Fish Feast". This would be the first time in 20 years that the sloop would return to the Straits of Mackinac... after begin restored by the Maritime Heritage Alliance based in Traverse City.
2 September 2010 ~ Ken Starr's Great-grandson Kristian visited the reconstructed Sloop "Welcome"
(View the Slideshow Below)
(View the Slideshow Below)
Uploaded on Sep 2, 2010 to YouTube:
Welcome greets Pride of Baltimore II in Grand Traverse West Bay, Brauer Productions
Uploaded on Sep 22, 2011 to YouTube:
A short documentary of the Armed Sloop Welcome that sails in the waters of west bay located in Traverse City, Michigan...
The Armed Sloop "Welcome" Crew Training Manual by the Maritime Heritage Alliance Organization is very interesting.
Welcome greets Pride of Baltimore II in Grand Traverse West Bay, Brauer Productions
Uploaded on Sep 22, 2011 to YouTube:
A short documentary of the Armed Sloop Welcome that sails in the waters of west bay located in Traverse City, Michigan...
The Armed Sloop "Welcome" Crew Training Manual by the Maritime Heritage Alliance Organization is very interesting.
On 1 August 2011 Ken Starr's Great-grandson Kristian visited the Sloop "Welcome"
at its latest Traverse City site from where it still sails, and also serves as a living museum.
at its latest Traverse City site from where it still sails, and also serves as a living museum.
The August 2013 article "The rebirth of the Sloop Welcome" from the Mackinac Journal is posted here
with permission from researcher and author Rick Wiles of Petoskey MI.
with permission from researcher and author Rick Wiles of Petoskey MI.
Traverse City Record Eagle
~ 14 August 2013 ~
~ 14 August 2013 ~
HMS Armed Sloop Welcome [Facebook Page]
September 24 [2013]
The Future of Welcome
As many of you know, MHA has been the custodian of the armed sloop Welcome since December 1991. Built in 1974 by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission at Fort Michilimackinac for the 200th anniversary of Independence Day, the Welcome was intended to be a static, maritime history display.
MHA launched Welcome in 2005 at the old Sears Coal Dock on M-22 after extensive reconstruction by MHA volunteers. Her mast was stepped in 2006 following the completion of additional in-water reconstruction. She passed the U.S. Coast Guard inspection in 2008 and since then has served as a living, working museum of Michigan's maritime tradition from the era of the American Revolution.
Welcome's voyages and re-enactment activities around the Great Lakes are well chronicled. Barb Horning's 2009 video of the re-launching of Welcome available on the MHA website and videos posted on YouTube, some featuring MHA's Jim Graczyk, document her colorful career and dedicated crew.
Sadly, Welcome faces an uncertain future. Despite all the reconstruction work, the years have not been kind to Welcome. The cost of getting Welcome into tip-top shape for sailing could be $150,000. There is so much wrong with her, namely, extensive rot in the deck, fighting platform, frames, and bulwarks; bent propeller shaft; engine problems; and a rig that was not designed for sailing.
Even if repairs were to be made, problems would still exist with use of the boat; the propellers too close to the surface, the shape of the hull, and the small rudder mean that maneuverability is limited. Taking her on trips to distant ports would not be a good idea, thus limiting MHA's ability to raise funds to make her financially sustainable.
For the past six months, we have been searching for an organization that would give Welcome a new home. When the extent of her problems becomes known, interest wanes.
At the MHA Board of Directors meeting on June 10, 2013, a motion was passed to explore the possibility of sinking Welcome in the Bay to create a dive attraction. The first step in the process is to obtain a permit from state and federal governments, which could take from 30 to 60 days. Meanwhile, we are still looking for an organization that would take ownership of her to use either as a static display or as a vessel sailing in a limited capacity.
I will keep you informed of any developments regarding the future of Welcome.
Rod Jones
MHA President
September 24 [2013]
The Future of Welcome
As many of you know, MHA has been the custodian of the armed sloop Welcome since December 1991. Built in 1974 by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission at Fort Michilimackinac for the 200th anniversary of Independence Day, the Welcome was intended to be a static, maritime history display.
MHA launched Welcome in 2005 at the old Sears Coal Dock on M-22 after extensive reconstruction by MHA volunteers. Her mast was stepped in 2006 following the completion of additional in-water reconstruction. She passed the U.S. Coast Guard inspection in 2008 and since then has served as a living, working museum of Michigan's maritime tradition from the era of the American Revolution.
Welcome's voyages and re-enactment activities around the Great Lakes are well chronicled. Barb Horning's 2009 video of the re-launching of Welcome available on the MHA website and videos posted on YouTube, some featuring MHA's Jim Graczyk, document her colorful career and dedicated crew.
Sadly, Welcome faces an uncertain future. Despite all the reconstruction work, the years have not been kind to Welcome. The cost of getting Welcome into tip-top shape for sailing could be $150,000. There is so much wrong with her, namely, extensive rot in the deck, fighting platform, frames, and bulwarks; bent propeller shaft; engine problems; and a rig that was not designed for sailing.
Even if repairs were to be made, problems would still exist with use of the boat; the propellers too close to the surface, the shape of the hull, and the small rudder mean that maneuverability is limited. Taking her on trips to distant ports would not be a good idea, thus limiting MHA's ability to raise funds to make her financially sustainable.
For the past six months, we have been searching for an organization that would give Welcome a new home. When the extent of her problems becomes known, interest wanes.
At the MHA Board of Directors meeting on June 10, 2013, a motion was passed to explore the possibility of sinking Welcome in the Bay to create a dive attraction. The first step in the process is to obtain a permit from state and federal governments, which could take from 30 to 60 days. Meanwhile, we are still looking for an organization that would take ownership of her to use either as a static display or as a vessel sailing in a limited capacity.
I will keep you informed of any developments regarding the future of Welcome.
Rod Jones
MHA President
Mike Will, director of the Discovery Center stated, in the 16 September 2013 Traverse City Record Eagle article above, that:
"Initially, he hoped the Welcome could become a M-22 roadside icon for the Discovery Center.
He now supports sinking the vessel because of
the prohibitive cost of removing it from the water, repairing and putting a roof over it."
"Initially, he hoped the Welcome could become a M-22 roadside icon for the Discovery Center.
He now supports sinking the vessel because of
the prohibitive cost of removing it from the water, repairing and putting a roof over it."
Only one month later, however, Jim Tamlyn, on behalf of the Emmet County Board of Commissioners
(NOT with a vote of his fellow board members, but rather, just on Mr. Tamlyn's own authority) ,
made a formal request to the Maritime Heritage Alliance to acquire the Sloop Welcome.
That, of course meant that
the Emmet County taxpayers would be transporting the vessel, not just the distance across the road to the Discovery Center,
but to the northern most part of Emmet County into the Headlands Park.
Emmet County taxpayers would be obligated to pay the price of...
the prohibitive cost of removing it from the water, repairing and putting a roof over it.
The photos below were taken during the month of October 2013,
the same month the Emmet County Board of Commissioners asked to acquire, and then visited, the Sloop Welcome.
The Sloop Welcome was sitting on the very bottom of the small harbor, in the photos below.
(NOT with a vote of his fellow board members, but rather, just on Mr. Tamlyn's own authority) ,
made a formal request to the Maritime Heritage Alliance to acquire the Sloop Welcome.
That, of course meant that
the Emmet County taxpayers would be transporting the vessel, not just the distance across the road to the Discovery Center,
but to the northern most part of Emmet County into the Headlands Park.
Emmet County taxpayers would be obligated to pay the price of...
the prohibitive cost of removing it from the water, repairing and putting a roof over it.
The photos below were taken during the month of October 2013,
the same month the Emmet County Board of Commissioners asked to acquire, and then visited, the Sloop Welcome.
The Sloop Welcome was sitting on the very bottom of the small harbor, in the photos below.
Unbeknownst to Emmet County taxpayers, and even unbeknownst to some of the seven members of the Emmet County Board of Commissioners [ECBOC], the chairman, Jim Tamlyn, of the ECBOC, took it upon himself to write, and to hand sign, the letter below left, where he stated that "on behalf of the Emmet County Board of Commissioners, and the Parks and Recreation Director, please consider this letter a formal request from Emmet County to acquire the sailing vessel, the Welcome." This letter was posted on the Facebook page of the Heritage Maritime Alliance on 14 October 2013, only days after both the previous 8 October 2013 Administrative ECBOC meeting, and the 10 October 2013 regular ECBOC meeting, both of which I had attended. Keep in mind, that this subject of "formally requesting to acquire the Sloop Welcome" had NEVER been broached at any of the ECBOC "OPEN meetings", and especially at neither of the just-days-previous meetings. This is not the first time that Emmet County powers-that-be have taken it upon themselves to spend money, or to make a formal request to another party, WITHOUT input, discussion, or a vote from the ECBOC, who have been elected into their positions to represent the citizens, and taxpayers, of the county in open public meetings.
I am supposing that neither Bob Carr, Karen Carr, Thom Hadfield nor the Petoskey News Review had a clue even by 8 November 2013 when the article above "Plans under way to save ship 'Welcome'" was published, that ECBOC Chairman Jim Tamlyn had already written a letter of formal request in October 2013 to acquire the Welcome, since none of this topic had been discussed in any kind of OPEN ECBOC meeting!
When I came across the posting on the HMS Armed Sloop Welcome Facebook page of Jim Tamlyn's letter I was amazed, but no more amazed than when I saw the additional 14 October 2013 Facebook telling of the Emmet County Controller Lyn Johnson having called to say "They [Emmet County?] want Welcome to be the center piece in the 3 story atrium, in a new museum the county is building." Again... another DONE DEAL, and I had NEVER heard any talk of a 3 story atrium, nor have the public at any ECBOC meetings truly been brought into any discussion regarding a county museum, nor have the other county commissioners as a whole.
I confronted the ECBOC at their following Administrative meeting on 12 November 2013 about these 14 October 2013 postings and the "behind the scenes" dealings... the two postings shown below do not show on the new MHA website which has been redone, but for now the old HMS Armed Sloop Welcome Facebook page is still accessible here. At that 12 November 2013 ECBOC meeting, Jim Tamlyn tried to justify his unauthorized letter by telling the other commissioners of a "time constraint" regarding the securing of the Sloop Welcome. When, however, another commissioner asked when the Welcome has to be moved from its Traverse City sanctuary, he was told not until early summer 2014, because the Welcome is already readied for Winter, and will be "bubbled" until Spring.
This whole situation has been very difficult for me to deal personally, because I have close ties, through my step-father Kenny Starr having helped with the original 1970s reconstruction of the Sloop Welcome... but, now to see how some of my county officials have taken undemocratic means, again, to achieve their own agenda, is difficult for me to silently tolerate. In the governmental meetings that I have attended for the last several years, I have often found that I am as interested in the "process of government", as I am interested in the topics being addressed. Sadly, that is where my concerns lie now... so, WELCOME to my world with regards Emmet County government.
~ Karla Howard Buckmaster
I am supposing that neither Bob Carr, Karen Carr, Thom Hadfield nor the Petoskey News Review had a clue even by 8 November 2013 when the article above "Plans under way to save ship 'Welcome'" was published, that ECBOC Chairman Jim Tamlyn had already written a letter of formal request in October 2013 to acquire the Welcome, since none of this topic had been discussed in any kind of OPEN ECBOC meeting!
When I came across the posting on the HMS Armed Sloop Welcome Facebook page of Jim Tamlyn's letter I was amazed, but no more amazed than when I saw the additional 14 October 2013 Facebook telling of the Emmet County Controller Lyn Johnson having called to say "They [Emmet County?] want Welcome to be the center piece in the 3 story atrium, in a new museum the county is building." Again... another DONE DEAL, and I had NEVER heard any talk of a 3 story atrium, nor have the public at any ECBOC meetings truly been brought into any discussion regarding a county museum, nor have the other county commissioners as a whole.
I confronted the ECBOC at their following Administrative meeting on 12 November 2013 about these 14 October 2013 postings and the "behind the scenes" dealings... the two postings shown below do not show on the new MHA website which has been redone, but for now the old HMS Armed Sloop Welcome Facebook page is still accessible here. At that 12 November 2013 ECBOC meeting, Jim Tamlyn tried to justify his unauthorized letter by telling the other commissioners of a "time constraint" regarding the securing of the Sloop Welcome. When, however, another commissioner asked when the Welcome has to be moved from its Traverse City sanctuary, he was told not until early summer 2014, because the Welcome is already readied for Winter, and will be "bubbled" until Spring.
This whole situation has been very difficult for me to deal personally, because I have close ties, through my step-father Kenny Starr having helped with the original 1970s reconstruction of the Sloop Welcome... but, now to see how some of my county officials have taken undemocratic means, again, to achieve their own agenda, is difficult for me to silently tolerate. In the governmental meetings that I have attended for the last several years, I have often found that I am as interested in the "process of government", as I am interested in the topics being addressed. Sadly, that is where my concerns lie now... so, WELCOME to my world with regards Emmet County government.
~ Karla Howard Buckmaster
I knew the record existed for me to see the 30 October 2013 Proposal to the Maritime Heritage Alliance in regard to the acquisition of the Armed Sloop Welcome because I had seen this proposal referenced in the "RESOLUTION ON THE DISPOSITION OF THE ARMED SLOOP WELCOME" as posted two papers below. To get the 30 October 2013 Proposal directly below, I had to go through the process of a Freedom of Information Act Request. That is why this paper is marked as a "COPY". Compare what is being asked on the page below dated 30 October 2013 to what was being asked on the page above which had been posted on the internet 14 October 2013, and signed by James E. Tamlyn Chairman, Emmet County Board of Commissioners... specifically, "please consider this letter a formal request from Emmet County to acquire the sailing vessel, the Welcome/Armed Sloop Welcome." BOTH requests were PRIOR TO any open public meeting being held by the Emmet County Board of Commissioners! No signed copy of the record below was found... just this letter without the signature.
~ Karla Howard Buckmaster
Below is the letter of "RESOLUTION ON THE DISPOSITION OF THE ARMED SLOOP WELCOME" from the Maritime Heritage Alliance Board of Directors. It is interesting in that the resolution not only was accepted on 11 November 2013, the day before even the Emmet County Board of Commissioner [ECBOC] Administrative meeting where topics are to be discussed [NOT voted upon], but that was also two days BEFORE the ECBOC 13 November 2013 regular meeting where issues are to be discussed openly in the public, and only then for possible action taken, like a vote by the ECBOC. This was a DONE DEAL before the ECBOC could either, discuss, or vote on it.
The resolution also stated "And whereas the Maritime Heritage Alliance received several inquiries from both private and public entities, the Board of Directors and the Welcome Committee determined that the formal request to acquire Welcome received from the Emmet County Board of Commissioners dated October 30, 2013 expressing a desire to re-purpose the Welcome as the primary showpiece of a proposed Heritage Center at the International Dark Sky Park at the Headlands best embraced the vision of Maritime Heritage Alliance for Welcome's future. Welcome would be returning to Emmet County, Michigan, her place of origin."
It is interesting that the date of the formal request from Emmet County had been changed to October 30, 2013, when Jim Tamlyn's letter of "formal request" on behalf of the ECBOC had already been posted on the Facebook page on 14 October 2013. Nothing amazes quite like the "rewriting of history" to fit wished-for untruths by the "Truth Slayers" to be recorded in posterity, and on the internet, as their own special truth.
~ Karla Howard Buckmaster
The resolution also stated "And whereas the Maritime Heritage Alliance received several inquiries from both private and public entities, the Board of Directors and the Welcome Committee determined that the formal request to acquire Welcome received from the Emmet County Board of Commissioners dated October 30, 2013 expressing a desire to re-purpose the Welcome as the primary showpiece of a proposed Heritage Center at the International Dark Sky Park at the Headlands best embraced the vision of Maritime Heritage Alliance for Welcome's future. Welcome would be returning to Emmet County, Michigan, her place of origin."
It is interesting that the date of the formal request from Emmet County had been changed to October 30, 2013, when Jim Tamlyn's letter of "formal request" on behalf of the ECBOC had already been posted on the Facebook page on 14 October 2013. Nothing amazes quite like the "rewriting of history" to fit wished-for untruths by the "Truth Slayers" to be recorded in posterity, and on the internet, as their own special truth.
~ Karla Howard Buckmaster
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On 21 November 2013 The St. Ignace News published an article by Stephanie Fortino titled:
"Welcome Is Going to Mackinaw City" which highlights
the moving of the Welcome from Traverse City to Mackinaw City.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On 21 November 2013 The St. Ignace News published an article by Stephanie Fortino titled:
"Welcome Is Going to Mackinaw City" which highlights
the moving of the Welcome from Traverse City to Mackinaw City.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obviously, from the 22 November 2013, two Letters to the Editor of The Petoskey News Review, shown below, the letters' authors are not happy with the decisions put forth by the Emmet County Board of Commissioners [ECBOC]. The letter regarding the Welcome illustrates the missing ingredient of OPEN public meetings where the ECBOC should have been discussing in public... and, let the public weigh in on how the county is spending so much money in the Emmet County Parks & Recreation department, and "adding future expenditures with dreams of transporting and upkeep of a boat [the Welcome], displaying the boat in a non-existent museum, with funds by a nonprofit group that does not yet exist".
The above Letter to the Editor of the Petoskey News Review appeared AFTER the news article below titled:
"Emmet County to buy ship for $1" published 18 November 2013.
This news article below followed an Emmet County Board of Commissioners meeting
where this Purchasing of the Welcome topic was not even listed on the agenda
for the 12 November 2013 ECBOC Administrative meeting,
nor on the 13 November ECBOC Regular meeting where the commissioners vote.
This governmental process of some Emmet County employees, and officials, making "Done Deal" decisions
is especially frustrating because it seems to be becoming more of the norm, than an exception... so, not the first time.
"Emmet County to buy ship for $1" published 18 November 2013.
This news article below followed an Emmet County Board of Commissioners meeting
where this Purchasing of the Welcome topic was not even listed on the agenda
for the 12 November 2013 ECBOC Administrative meeting,
nor on the 13 November ECBOC Regular meeting where the commissioners vote.
This governmental process of some Emmet County employees, and officials, making "Done Deal" decisions
is especially frustrating because it seems to be becoming more of the norm, than an exception... so, not the first time.
Page Below:
In January & February of 2014 ~ MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN EMMET COUNTY AND MARITIME HERITAGE ALLIANCE PAGE 1 |
Page Below:
In January & February of 2014 ~ MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN EMMET COUNTY AND MARITIME HERITAGE ALLIANCE PAGE 2 was signed. |
Page Below:
In February of 2014 ~ ADDENDUM TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN EMMET COUNTY AND MARITIME HERITAGE ALLIANCE was signed. |
The new storage building proposed at The Headlands would provide temporary storage for The Sloop Welcome
when the bond proposal passes in June 2014.
when the bond proposal passes in June 2014.
On 15 May 2014 The Maritime Heritage Alliance prepared the Sloop Welcome
for its return to the Mackinaw City area of Emmet County.
The mast was unstepped, along with the bowsprit.
During the weekend of 19 July 2014, the lead was to have been removed from the Sloop Welcome.
Then the Sloop Welcome was to be lifted out of the water and moved North.
The Maritime Heritage Alliance posted the video below of The History of the Armed Sloop Welcome during its time of ownership.
for its return to the Mackinaw City area of Emmet County.
The mast was unstepped, along with the bowsprit.
During the weekend of 19 July 2014, the lead was to have been removed from the Sloop Welcome.
Then the Sloop Welcome was to be lifted out of the water and moved North.
The Maritime Heritage Alliance posted the video below of The History of the Armed Sloop Welcome during its time of ownership.
The hoisting of the Sloop Welcome was televised on Channel 7 & 4 television on 20 August 2014,
in preparation to transport the sloop from Greilickville MI to Emmet County.
in preparation to transport the sloop from Greilickville MI to Emmet County.
The TV reporter Charlie Lapastora wrote: "Repair costs got too high [for the Maritime Heritage Alliance], so a new Emmet County museum bought Welcome with plans to have it be the centerpiece." This will be news to many Emmet County residents who have no knowledge about an Emmet County museum being in their future to house the Sloop Welcome... Especially since the Emmet County Board of Commissioners just in June 2014 passed a $15,000,000.00 BOND which extends until 2029 without any vote of the people. That bond money is not designated for a museum, but rather for an observatory. So, one can only imagine that the Emmet County taxpayers likely will be put on the hook for building not only an observatory, but also a museum to house the Sloop Welcome... not yet funded, because the BOND issue did not specify the BOND money to be used for a county museum, only the 7 to 8 millions to be used toward the observatory.
~Karla Howard Buckmaster
~Karla Howard Buckmaster
August 2014
The Sloop Welcome is officially out of the water in Grelickville, ready to be hauled, per road transport, back to Emmet County.
The Sloop Welcome is officially out of the water in Grelickville, ready to be hauled, per road transport, back to Emmet County.
11 September 2014
Emmet County Board of Commissioners Minutes of Meeting
Construction of the Storage Facility to House the Welcome
Emmet County Board of Commissioners Minutes of Meeting
Construction of the Storage Facility to House the Welcome
"Motion made by Wonnacott and seconded by Plascencia for Authorization for Building and Grounds Committee, working with AECOM and the Administrator [Krupa], to begin site preparation and construction of the storage facility to be built on the property across from the caretakers' [sic] house at the Headlands that will house the 'Welcome.' [sic] and address future storage needs (Not to exceed $50,000).
Motion carried in a unanimous roll call vote."
Motion carried in a unanimous roll call vote."
12 October 2014
Emmet County taxpayers paid to have the Sloop Welcome moved by J&R Building Movers of Petoskey from the Traverse City dock to Mackinaw City by road at a cost not to exceed $10,000.00, "including the cost to rent a crane to load the Sloop onto a cradle for transport" (ECBOC Building & Grounds Committee minutes of 8 April 2014). Also, on top of the moving expense, who paid and how much did it cost, back in May 2014, for the crane in Traverse City which lifted the Sloop Welcome from the water to the dry dock? A crane costs money. The goal of Emmet County officials was to display the Sloop Welcome at a new non-funded, non-designed, museum facility at the Headlands, as mentioned above. In the meantime, another new building with a focus on park maintenance and storage needs, would be built and funded up to $150,000.00 from the $15,000,000.00 BOND which the Emmet County taxpayers did not get to vote. That new building was designed large enough to house the 55 foot long sloop, so the building could provide temporary storage for the Sloop Welcome.
16 October 2014
Here sits The Sloop Welcome
at the entry to The Headlands
near Mackinaw City MI.
~ View the slideshow below. ~
Here sits The Sloop Welcome
at the entry to The Headlands
near Mackinaw City MI.
~ View the slideshow below. ~
28 October 2014
~ FALL 2014 ~
"Catching Up With The Saga Of The Welcome"
Inland Seas Magazine Article By Rick Wiles
40 Years After Rick Wile's First Article in Inland Seas (at the top of this same webpage)
Pictures of Ken Starr can be viewed on pages 127 and 129 in the book which included several pages of information about the building of the Sloop Welcome in the 1970s: Mackinac The Gathering Place published by the Michigan Natural Resources Magazine in 1981 with Russell McKee ~ editor, and Victor Hogg ~ designer.
"Wind & Sail"
The Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey MI exhibited from June 5~ September 5, 2015 the work of Frederick Sloane Ford, a naval architect of the Sloop "Welcome". The exhibit displays paintings and drawings, architectural sketches, schematics, and relics of the Sloop "Welcome" and of the Great Lakes. Frederick Ford Jr.'s son Rick Ford displayed his own work alongside that of his father, as a tribute to his father who passed away 1 August 2014. Mr. Frederick Ford served in the U.S. Coast Guard for several years.
The photos in the slideshow below were taken 25 June 2015 as displayed in the Crooked Tree Arts Center Petoskey MI.
The photos in the slideshow below were taken 25 June 2015 as displayed in the Crooked Tree Arts Center Petoskey MI.
Article Below: The PRE-Welcome article about Fred Ford explains the qualifications which probably contributed to him being chosen as the designer of the Sloop Welcome.
The history of the original Sloop Welcome has been presented on the Online Magazine Journal of the American Revolution, titled Two Years Aboard The Welcome: The American Revolution On Lake Huron. Tyler Rudd Putman has captured the essence of the role the Sloop Welcome played in the American Revolution... an interesting perspective. Tyler has worked as "a historical interpreter at Colonial Michilimackinac" near where the Sloop Welcome again rests.
Below are the three pages to the 16 March 2017 AGREEMENT FOR SALE OF
THE ARMED SLOOP "WELCOME"
THE ARMED SLOOP "WELCOME"
The Emmet County Board of Commissioners sold the Sloop Welcome to Enzo "Joe" Lieghio of the Rum Runners Island Grill Inc. in Mackinaw City, MI. His winning bid was for $10,111.00, barely covering the cost the county had to pay to move the sloop from Traverse City to Mackinac City. An 8 April 2017 article by Erich T. Doerr in the Mackinac Island Town Crier told of Mr. Lieghio's vision for the sloop related to his business in Mackinaw City.
The Sloop Welcome was moved from the county's storage facility, but not within the time frame as agreed. Consequently, at the 24 August 2017 Emmet County Board of Commissioners meeting a "Motion by Scheel and seconded by Shorter to direct civil counsel to pursue payment of the storage fees allowed for in the agreement between the County of Emmet and Rum Runners Island Grill, Inc. associated with the Sloop Welcome and the Interim Administrator is authorized to determine the amount of the storage fees on behalf of the County of Emmet. Motion passed in a unanimous roll call vote."
Erich T. Doerr of Mackinac Island's Town Crier reported on 8 April 2017 that
"Welcome Could Become Downtown Mackinaw City Museum Ship".
"Welcome Could Become Downtown Mackinaw City Museum Ship".
Five Photos Below: It appears that the Sloop Welcome was being "readied"
for the proposed plan to become a part of the restaurant being constructed as seen in the gray in the background.
for the proposed plan to become a part of the restaurant being constructed as seen in the gray in the background.
The restaurant in the photo below is called The Hook, located at 201 South Huron Avenue, Mackinaw City, Michigan. The Sloop Welcome which was painted primer white in the above photo is to be painted its traditional colors of black, white, and gold. It will be displayed dockside, but as of the photo below on 24 June 2018, the sloop is not seen... MISSING???
Later, the Sloop Welcome was spied behind Mackinaw City's Starbucks, getting its final restoration.
Later, the Sloop Welcome was spied behind Mackinaw City's Starbucks, getting its final restoration.
As of Early 2019 the Sloop Welcome was moved to its final resting place (hopefully) on Lake Huron, near the Hook restaurant. Later on, a public viewing stand will be constructed.
Seven Photos Below: The Sloop Welcome was cradled over the water
in front of The Hook Lakeside Grill where the rigging was being reconditioned.
The setting is very close to the original 1976 building site of The Sloop Welcome.
in front of The Hook Lakeside Grill where the rigging was being reconditioned.
The setting is very close to the original 1976 building site of The Sloop Welcome.