A Special Message from the Director

By Elizabeth Poulliot
HRNM Director

Another successful year is closing at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum. Readers of this blog can look back and see the myriad of interests that we pursue from our home in downtown Norfolk: the history of the Naval Station; maritime art & artists; the Civil War; local history; naval technology and even the weather. I want to give a year-end nod to the talented staff that takes our shared history and makes it new. I also want to thank you, our readers, visitors, members, friends and fans for supporting the museum and the Navy.

The good news is that another successful year is beginning! Make your 2016 special by joining us at the following events that we are calling The Year of the Spy:

• May 19, 2016. Robert Hunter & Richard Haver lived history as they confronted master spy John Walker and brought an end to what many top officials call the most damaging espionage ring in U.S. history.

• June 23, 2016. Professor David Fidler from Indiana University specializes in international law. He will discuss former NSA contractor Eric Snowden's disclosures and their aftermath.

• July 14, 2016. Mr. Alexander Rose, the producer and writer for the AMC Drama series, Turn: Washington Spies will connect espionage and our nation's beginning.  

In September 2016, we will feature a special commemoration for the 20th anniversary of the closing of the Naval Aviation Depot (NADEP). And, as always, Brick by Brick: LEGO Shipbuilding comes around February 6, and Family Fun activities take place in our museum gallery throughout the year.     
                                      
Don't forget you can become a museum friend by joining the Hampton Roads Naval Historical Foundation. Go to www.hrnhf.org to enlist! In addition to receiving The Daybook quarterly, members have a chance to attend special Behind the Scenes Tours. The Foundation offers discounts for all members at its gift shop, located near Naval Station Norfolk.


Happy New Year to all! See you at an upcoming event.

U.S. Fleet Forces brass band performs at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum

Artifact of the Month: Holiday Menu Cards

 By Diana Gordon
Hampton Roads Naval Museum Educator

The museum's Artifact of the Month display features holiday menus and cards from a variety of ships from the first half of the 20th century. Among those currently on display are menus from the USS Agamemnon (ID 3304), USS Augusta (CA-31), and USS Wisconsin (BB 64). 

The USS Agamemnon was originally called the SS Kaiser Wilhelm II, a German passenger ship, and was seized by the United States during World War I. There was a need for transport ships when the US entered the war so the vessel was used to transport soldiers over to Europe. When the armistice was signed, Agamemnon carried the troops back to Hampton Roads throughout 1919.

The Christmas menu from USS Agamemnon is from 1918, when the ship was readying in Brest, France, to transport soldiers back to the US. The menu cover features traditional holiday motifs: a snowy view, the green holly, and chiming bells, all motifs that would have reminded the crew of home while they enjoyed their Christmas dinner. 

Also on display is a 1931 Christmas menu from USS Augusta, which was used as a presidential flagship at times. Similar to the USS Agamemnon menu card, it displays the traditional holiday motifs--a snowy mountainside with the quiet city below, the blooming holly, and red and green bells.

The display also features several menu cards from USS Wisconsin during different years of the ship's service. One in particular is from Christmas Day in 1951, when the battleship was involved in fire support missions during the Korean War. This card features a non-traditional holiday picture: USS Wisconsin is featured steaming ahead, as Santa Claus (colored in red) descends from a hovering helicopter above. This menu is different as it does not feature motifs of peace and reminders of home, but of humorous times aboard the ship. In addition to the comic cover, the menu presents a list of all the different courses served during the Christmas meal, including Virginia ham, snowflake potatoes, and mincemeat pie.

Stop on by and see the rest of the holiday collection!

The West Wing of Raleigh Court: Building N-23, NSN

By Katherine A. Renfrew 
Hampton Roads Naval Museum Registrar

Building N-23, one of the remaining nineteen Jamestown Exposition buildings of 1907 is an imposing two-story Beaux Arts style building. Its architectural features include: a stuccoed façade, with three central bays and two-story Ionic columns which support an intricate cornice on the north end. The south end is built of brick with arches that are ornamented by keystones and quoins; and the entire building has a cruciform footprint.

During the exposition the auditorium was the focal point of the fair with two massive wings attached by long colonnades. The center structure was destroyed by fire in 1941 and replaced/rebuilt with a new building, N-26. The eastern wing, now building N-21, housed the higher education exhibits, while the western wing, now building N-23, was devoted to primary and secondary education exhibits. These were displayed along the east and west walls in partitioned alcoves. The auditorium complex was known as "Raleigh Court."

The U.S. Navy acquired the building in 1917 for use as an operating base and training station. Clarence Neff, a local architect, was appointed supervising engineer of the Norfolk Operating Base and directed the rehabilitation of both the interior and exterior of the building. After this extensive renovation, the outer brick shell was the only part of the original structure that remained. Neff, however, managed to retain key architectural elements preserving the "spirit of the original design." The central group of buildings, served as the Fifth Naval District Headquarters with communications in the center building (Building N-26); and administrative offices - naval training station (Building N-21) and the Commandant's offices (Building N-23) in the adjoining wings.

After World War II, the building became home to many more commands and personnel including the Red Cross, Atlantic Division (Naval Facilities Engineering Command) and the Naval Doctrine Command. Today, it is the headquarters for Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 4 and is a contributing resource in the Naval Administration/Recruit Training Station Historic District. Even though the district is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places it has been determined to be a significant resource. It is eligible for listing due to its leading role in the development of naval recruit training. In addition, the building was one of the first structures to be renovated for the naval operating base; and its original architect John Kevan Peebles (1876-1964) and later, Clarence Amos Neff (1873-1952), were both well-known Norfolk architects.

The University and College Education Building (now Building N-21), the Auditorium (now Building N-26) and the Primary and Secondary Education Building (now Building N-23), Raleigh Court was the heart of the Jamestown Exposition, circa 1907. Library of Congress, 3c03105u

Many of the buildings fell in disrepair after the Jamestown Exposition. This image depicts Building N-23 shortly after the U.S. Navy took ownership, July 18, 1917. Naval History and Heritage Command, NRL 5867

View of the complex, facing north, after the Grand Basin was filled in May 2, 1922. National Archives and Records Administration NSNorfolk-1922_40 (RG 71-CA, Box 323, Folder C)

Aerial view of buildings including Buildings N-24 and N-25A (located on the other side of Building N-23) with the baseball field behind, October 5, 1926. National Archives and Records Administration NSNorfolk-1926_01 (RG 71-CA, Box 322, Folder A)

Building N-26 catches fire, January 26, 1941. National Archives and Records Administration

NSNorfolk-1941_33 (RG 71-CA, Box 314, Folder B)

View looking southeast during fire. Firefighters managed to prevent the flames from spreading to Buildings N-21 and N-23, January 26, 1941. National Archives and Records Administration

NSNorfolk-1941_43 (RG 71-CA, Box 323, Folder A)

Aerial view of Fifth Naval District Headquarters with a newly constructed Building N-26, rebuilt after being demolished by fire the year before, November 15, 1942. National Archives and Records Administration NSNorfolk-1942_03 (RG 71-CB, Box 91, Folder Norfolk NOB - Aerial Views)

A view of the Fifth Naval District Headquarters (Building N-23 is on the left), circa 1969. Library of Congress, 11-80-G-K-82043

This brief history of Building N-23, NSN is the second in a series of blogs illustrating the development of Naval Station Norfolk. Unless otherwise noted, the photographs in this series represent the results of a research project seeking images of Hampton Roads naval installations at the National Archives and Records Administration. This research, funded by Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, is part of an ongoing effort to provide information on historic architectural resources at Navy bases in Hampton Roads. The museum is pleased to present these images for the benefit of the general public and interested historians. As far as we know, all of these images are in the public domain and have not been published previously.

The Many Inventions of John Ericsson

By Jerome Kirkland 
Hampton Roads Naval Museum Educator

John Ericsson may best be remembered as the designer of the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor, which set off a revolution in ship design with its revolving turret. The fame he gained with his “floating battery” resulted in the creation of songs such as the “Ericsson Gallop,” the “Monitor Polka,” and “Give Us a Navy of Iron.” Ericsson and his Monitor certainly deserved being immortalized in songs of the day, but many people do not remember the other contributions Ericsson made throughout his life.

John Ericsson and his invention, USS Monitor

After six years as a surveyor in the Swedish Army, John Ericsson left his native Sweden and moved to England to pursue his interest in mechanics. While there, he teamed up with John Braithwaite to develop a steam locomotive to compete in trials for a contract. Their entry, Novelty, quickly became the crowd favorite, sustaining the high speed of 28 miles per hour, but boiler problems developing late in the competition saw them take second place. The winner of the competition, the Rocket, is now considered the first “modern” steam locomotive.

Braithwaite and Ericsson went on to improve steam engine designs that were used in locomotives and fire engines. Their steam-powered fire engine gained notoriety while fighting the “Argyll Rooms fire” in London, on a cold February night, by outlasting all other fire engines on the scene by five hours.

Ericsson and Braithwaite's steam-powered fire engine and a period add for Ericsson’s Caloric engine.

While in England, Ericsson fine-tuned an invention he first made in Sweden, the “Caloric Engine.” This engine worked much like a steam engine, but instead of heating water to produce steam under pressure (a very dangerous operation in those days), it used heated air to work the piston. This arrangement was less effective but far safer, making it popular for less demanding work, such as pumping water. This invention became successful enough to supply Ericsson a steady income throughout his life.

One of Ericsson’s other major inventions was a screw propeller, meant to replace the side wheel paddle for steam boats and ships. The screw propeller was more efficient, less prone to damage, and allowed the steam engine powering the craft to sit lower in the hull. For river boats, this made the boat more stable and allowed more upper deck space for cargo and passengers. For military boats and ships, a steam engine below the water line allowed the ship to be protected from enemy shells, and the propeller could not be hit like a side paddle wheel could. Despite all the advantages of his design, Ericsson was unable to convince the conservative British Admiralty to use his designs on military vessels. As Ericsson was losing hope for selling this design, he met Captain Robert Stockton from the United States. Stockton convinced Ericsson to build him a screw propeller steamship and sail it to America, where his designs would receive more attention. Thus, Ericsson built the Robert F. Stockton, a propeller-driven steamship, and sailed it to America. 

By the time Ericsson arrived in the United States, he already had fourteen patents to his name. Shortly after his arrival, Ericsson began work on what should have been one of his greatest accomplishments, the USS Princeton. Princeton was a twin propeller steam-powered sloop. Ericsson designed and supervised the construction of most of the ship, its engine, and one of its two 12-inch cannons. Stockton, with his focus on political gain and prestige, claimed most of the credit. Upon launching, Princeton took on the British paddle steamer SS Great Western, considered the fastest steamer on the seas, and easily beat it. Princeton returned to port in Philadelphia and completed outfitting, eventually making it to New York to receive her two 12-inch guns.

After receiving her guns, Princeton took on hundreds of dignitaries for a demonstration cruise. The list included President John Tyler and most of his Cabinet. During a demonstration of the 12-inch guns, the "Peacemaker," the gun designed by Stockton, exploded. Luckily, the president was belowdecks at the time and was not harmed; however, eight men were killed, including the Secretary of State and Secretary of the Navy. Despite having claimed most of the credit for Princeton, as well as designing and supervising the construction of the gun that had blown up, Stockton tried to blame Ericsson. Using his political connections, Stockton was able to shift most of the responsibility to Ericsson and even blocked the Navy from paying Ericsson for the ship, which went on to outperform the rest of the U.S. Gulf Fleet during the Mexican-American War.

This bad experience with Stockton and the Navy almost stopped Ericsson from working with the Navy again. Luckily, a group of Ericsson’s friends convinced him to submit his design for a revolving turret “floating battery” to the Navy. This design, which became the USS Monitor, was accepted and completed just in time to meet the CSS Virginia (formerly the USS Merrimack) in the Battle of Hampton Roads.

After the Civil War, Ericsson could have retired financially secure and with his fame assured, but he still had more to offer. In the 1880s, he developed a warship that was fast, armored, low in the water, and fired an “underwater rifle.” Calling his ship the Destroyer, he claimed it could take on any ship of the day. Destroyer was never accepted by the Navy, largely because the “underwater rifle” had to be aimed by pointing the ship in the direction you wanted to fire and the shell was not self-propelled, so it had a limited range.

(top left) The low-riding Destroyer with a round coming out of the underwater rifle. (top right) A view inside the hull of the watertight cannon with a shell ready to load. (bottom) A cut-away view of the ship's hull and underwater cannon.

With the Navy turning down Destroyer, Ericsson later developed a self-propelled and guidable torpedo. Although able to change direction and depth, it was bulky and unable to compete against the much faster Whitehead torpedo. Ericsson also helped John Holland in his early submarine work by providing technical support.

These are but a few samples of Ericsson’s many contributions to engineering and naval science.

1918 Artist's Study for "The Return of the Mayflower" by Bernard Gribble

Artist’s Study of The Return of the Mayflower by Gribble

By Diana Gordon

Hampton Roads Naval Museum Educator

Recently, our collection gained a preliminary study of The Return of the Mayflower by Bernard F. Gribble. This famous painting illustrates Norfolk-based Destroyer Squadron 8 heading into Queenstown, Ireland, in May of 1917—only a month after the United States declared war on Germany. Gribble created several different studies of The Return of the Mayflower before he finished the final piece. In art, studies are often done in preparation for the final product and are used to understand problems of the different elements of a piece, such as light, form, and composition.

In comparison to the final rendition of The Return of the Mayflower, the study offers a different perspective, one of less urgency and hope. The composition of this work is the exact opposite of the finalized piece. For instance, the British fisherman’s boat is located on the right hand side of the canvas instead of the left-as found in The Return of the Mayflower. Having the fisherman’s boat located on the right shifts the viewer’s eye to that corner and away from the United States destroyer steaming straight ahead, moving away from these signs of hope. In addition, the local fishermen waving to the Navy ships seem less urgent in their desire to see these signs of hope. The fishermen, each outlined and defined, seem to be casually waving to the ships as they approach. Gribble even added a dog to the fisherman’s boat, which removes some of the serious tones of the piece. In the final masterpiece, Gribble shows the fisherman less defined and more chaotic in their movements, as though they would do anything to see a glimmer of hope and salvation in their world of despair.

Final rendition of The Return of the Mayflower, by Gribble

 As many artists often do, Gribble created different studies of his final work with slightly different compositions. A master in oils and watercolors, Gribble stayed true to his skill and continued with darker color tones and dramatic atmospheres in his study of The Return of the Mayflower, but the piece lacked the strong sense of urgency and hope displayed in his final rendition.

This piece is a valuable new addition to our collection. Come by and see it today!