I took a walk out to the old Essayons this afternoon to see what it looked like close up.
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| Essayons Ruins |
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| Essayon pilot house, roof, stack and navigation mast |
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| Essayons Smoke Stack |
Much like going to a graveyard, the once great tug sits on the bottom of the bay, unnoticed nearly buried in the February snow drifts.
The pride of the fleet, the Essayons was the historic retired Army Corps of Engineers tugboat that had been a Twin Ports fixture since 1908. The tug's engine is on display at the Marine Museum in Canal Park.
The tug's owner was hoping to turn the boat into a floating bed and breakfast. However, vandal damage postponed the plan in 2004 and the tug was than docked near the Duluth Timber Company.
In 2009, shifting harbor ice pushed by a strong northeast wind, punctured the hull and the boat sank the the bottom, where it still rests today.
Perhaps someday it will be raised, but, for now, it quietly rests in peace, out of sight, and unnoticed.
"ESSAYONS" means - "Let Us Try" and is the branch song of the Army Corps of Engineers.
THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BRANCH SONG "ESSAYONS"
Essayons, sound out the battle cry
Essayons, we'll win or we'll die
Essayons, there's nothing we won't try
We're the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Pin the castle on my collar
I've done my training for the team
You can call me an engineer soldier
The warrior spirit has been my dream
We are builders, we are fighters
We are destroyers just as well
There've been doubters who met with the sappers
1 - We know our sappers will never fail
OR
2 - And then we blew them all straight to hell
Our brothers fighting on the battlefield
Look to us to point the way
We get there first and then we take the risks
To build the roads and the air strips
And bridge the mighty river streams
We don't care who gets the glory
We're sure of one thing, this we know
Somewhere out there an engineer soldier
Designed the plan for the whole darn show
Essayons whether in war or peace
We will bear our red and our white
Essayons we serve America
And the U.S. Army Corps of engineers
Essayons! Essayons!
great story and pics dennis!
ReplyDeletethank you!
:-)
Doubt it can be re-floated and refinished. Sad.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great history lesson! Thanks! Is the Essayons wreck site/Duluth Timber Company visible in any of the streaming cams (even from afar)? I see that it's near the bridge, but can't quite get a grip on exactly where to look.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Essayons can be seen on the PierB cam if I turn it. Let me know when you will be watching and I will turn the camera for you to see.
ReplyDeleteSo excited! With clues from your post and pics, I found it with Google Earth. That big tilted smokestack is pretty easy to spot. Could you turn the Pier B cam that direction sometime this weekend (March 7/8)? Any time that's convenient for you.
Deletelove the new outly of this site! so, is this "wreck" visible for a shorline. or do you need to venture out on the lake? and if it is visible from shore, whereabouts? thanks and great pics of he ice caves as well! Park Rapids, MN
ReplyDeletewow this website is fantastic with the new look! It's brighter and much easier to find the links with the brighter, bolder print. Great job!
ReplyDeleteOK--remind me on Friday please
ReplyDeleteHi, Dennis -- here's a reminder -- could you turn the Pier B cam toward the Essayons sometime during the weekend? Thanks! Love this website!
ReplyDeleteThe Pier B Camera is looking at the sunken Essayons per Julie's request.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dennis -- your cameras are so much fun to visit every day to see what there is to see. Maybe till shipping season starts up again in a couple weeks, you could randomly shift Pier B cam's angle every few days so we can sightsee a bit during the winter lull? Thanks again for the view of the Essayons wreckage. Ready for harbor view again whenever you are.
DeleteSorry I missed that! Thanks for all you do to entertain us southerners. :)
ReplyDelete