CMM REPRINTS THE PATUXENT “GHOST FLEET” 1927-1941

Jun 2, 2009, 06:33

Did you know that between 1927 and 1941 the deep waters of the Patuxent River served as a home for U.S. Government-owned laid-up ships, mothballed in the face of a widespread shipping depression? The four largest ships were  ex-German passenger liners, once the pride of its merchant marine, but interned during World War I:  Monticello (former Kaiser Wilhelm II), Mount Vernon (former Kronprinzessen Cecelie), America (former Amerika), and the George Washington.

In The Patuxent “Ghost Fleet” 1927 – 1941, author Merle T. Cole presents the little-known story of why the four ships came to the Patuxent, how they became almost a permanent feature of the local landscape, and what was their ultimate fate.  During their time in Solomons, they were an important source of employment during the Great Depression, and became a tourist attraction. In 1935, a motion picture was filmed on board the vessels, and in 1937 they served as a backdrop to a murder-romance novel by local author, Hulbert Footner, named The Dark Ships.

The Calvert Marine Museum originally published the book in 1986.  Long out-of-print, the seventy page study has been completely updated and is available for $19.95 from the Calvert Marine Museum store.  To purchase your copy, please call the store at 410-326-2750 or email baughmmp@co.cal.md.us.