Creation of Seawolf Park
Seawolf Park is located on Pelican Island off the north east end of Galveston, Texas at the entrance to the city’s port. Originally a point of origin for immigrants, the island was converted to a park in 1971 when the USS Cavalla (SS-244), a US Navy submarine of WWII vintage, was permanently installed and put on display. The park was named in memory of the USS Seawolf (SS-197) which was lost during the war on October 3, 1944. It serves as a memorial to the 99 men lost aboard her.
Subsequent additions to the park include a WWII vintage destroyer escort, the USS Stewart (DE-238) which opened for tours in 1974, various outbuildings and assorted military vehicles, and the sail of the decommissioned nuclear submarine USS Tautog (SSN-639).
Hurricane Ike
With advanced knowledge of Ike’s approach the park was secured. All hatches were dogged and loose gear was stowed. Due to the intensity of the storm and the damage it had already caused, Galveston was ordered evacuated. Though the ships on display are out of the water and set into the island’s sand foundation, the remained only inches above sea level. The storm surge predicted for Ike was estimated at 20 – 25 feet.
Ike roared ashore at 2:10 am Saturday morning under cover of darkness. Highest sustained winds were 85 mph. While the storm surge did not equal the maximum prediction, its peak was measured at 15 feet near the Texas-Louisiana border. As a result the park was completely submerged and submitted to relentless pounding by wind and waves.
Seawolf Park Damage
When the storm passed and the rain receded, daylight revealed the impact to the park. All the existing infrastructure of portable buildings, storage shed, etc. had been either significantly damaged or washed away. Debris littered the grounds.
The sail of USS Tautog had been sheared from its mount by the water’s edge, knocked back into the parking lot and rested on a sail plane.
Having rested in their beds of sand for over thirty years, to many Cavalla and Stewart appeared solidly moored in place. However this had not proven true. The storm surged actually floated the ships from their beds raising them several feet. Cavalla came to rest in almost her exact original position only now four feet higher than before. Internally, some light flooding occurred in her after torpedo room.
Located outboard of Cavalla and next to the shore, Stewart was moved even more. When the water receded her stern settled in place over twenty feet to port of her original position causing her to list 17 degrees to starboard.
Ike Recovery Efforts
Currently, funds are being raised by the Cavalla Historical Foundation to rebuild the park infrastructure and repair the ships for display. Cavalla will be left in place with new stairs build to accommodate the boat’s higher draft. Bids are being accepted to reposition Stewart on an even keel. To date over $10,000 has been raised for the efforts along with pledged support from the City of Galveston.
Contributions can be submitted to:
IKE Restoration Campaign c/o Cavalla Historical Foundation, 2504 Church St., Galveston, TX 77550
References:
Kimmett, Larry and Regis, Margaret. U.S. Submarines in World War II. Seattle: Navigator Publishing, 1996.
Jeanne Meserve, Rusty Dornin, Sean Callebs, Rob Marciano, Gary Tuchman, Arthur Brice, Deb Krajnak and Elise Miller. “Ike Wears Itself Out Beating Up on Texas.” CNN. September 14, 2008 <http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/09/13/hurricane.ike.texas/index.html>.
Welcome Aboard. Cavalla Historical Foundation, 2000.
 |
