The New England Steam & Wireless Museum moved the Nobska's engine to their campus in Rhode Island:
11/11/24 The engine is in its new home! Read the article in the Vineyard Gazette: https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2024/11/11/nobskas-steam-engine-displayed-rhode-island-museum#comment-562836
10/18/23 read the article in the Vineyard Gazette: https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2023/10/18/nobska-ferry-engine-lives-steam-museum
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9/26/23 UPDATE: Another item added: Paul found a model of the Nobska made by Vaclav Niedermertl. I don't have a picture, but there is a post about a Nobska model on his website at http://niedermertl.blogspot.com/2014/09/
Vaclav Niedermertl holding his model of the Nobska, from his 2014 post
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9/18/23 GOOD NEWS UPDATE! The board of the New England Wireless and Steam Museum has voted to pursue acquisition of the Nobska's engine and related parts in order to restore the engine to working condition and create an exhibit. Thank you so much!
The biggest remaining challenge is to find homes for the three lifeboats. Most of the other Nobska artifacts will find new homes in local museums, with the Martha's Vineyard Museum, Woods Hole Museum, Cape Cod Maritime Museum, Steamship Historical Society, and Nantucket Historical Association all expressing interest in acquiring something from the collection. However none have the space for a lifeboat. Please contact me if you have any ideas for new homes.
Mary Longacre, 202-415-7843
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8/11/23 NEW PHOTOS from Paul Bartley: Ship's wheel, binnacle & telegraph from the Nobska
8/1/23 UPDATE: Conversation with Robert Cleasby, former President of "Friends of the Nobska" and of the Steamship Historical Society of America.
Robert gave me more information about the parts that had been saved from the Nobska, and said that the engine was a smaller scale replica of the engine on the Titanic. He also has the hat that goes with the Captain's uniform, which belonged to Captain Joseph Gwodz who donated it. (Paul Bartley says the uniform has been dry-cleaned.) Robert also confirmed that the propeller shaft was cut in Baltimore when the propeller was removed from the Nobska.
Paul Bartley confirmed that other items from the Nobska, including the ship's wheel, binnacle, and telegraph, have been stored and are included in the inventory of artifacts to be re-homed.
I am also working on recovering the previous nobska.org webpage that gave the Nobska's history.
7/25/23 visit to WRH Industries in Fall River, meeting with Paul Bartley.
Pictures of Nobska artifacts. Some were removed from the ship when it was scrapped in 2006, others, including the engine, propeller, and propeller shaft, had been removed previously.
Please contact me with any additional information or questions Mary Longacre 202 415 7843
NOT PICTURED: Box of artwork related to the Nobska, a Captain's uniform (unknown condition), ships wheel, and the 6 ft wide propeller screw (stored indoors)
Inventory includes 3 Lifeboats, some deck items, the disassembled engine, and some items of uncertain purpose.
The lifeboats are each 28 feet long x 9 feet wide:
One lifeboat had been stripped and restored, but has since deteriorated from being left outside:
One lifeboat appears to be in original used condition but deteriorated due to being left uncovered outside. The lettering "NANTUCKET" is still barely discernible on the starboard side forward:
The final lifeboat was stripped and painted but not restored:
Using this overhead view of my Nobska model (made by Rex Stewart, not included in the package of parts) as a reference, it appears that the major elements (outlined in yellow) of the deck between the lifeboats were saved, including 4 cowl vents, the smokestack, and the atrium structure immediately aft of the cowl vents. (The second picture of the side view of the model was taken before the lifeboats were installed on it.)
The smokestack (with a ladder of unknown origin thrown inside):
The "NE" is barely discernible in the square tan patch of the stack (you can make out the arms of the 'E' facing downward at the bottom):
I'm not sure what the two orange beams in the foreground are?
This appears to be a part of the deck (views from the two ends):
Four cowl vents have been stored outside:
We think this is the propeller shaft and believe it was separated into three pieces. One piece was properly disconnected, as shown by the left and center pieces in the photo, but the other joint may have been frozen, requiring the shaft to be roughly cut apart instead of decoupled. The picture shows a cut end on the right, and on the left shows how deeply the shaft has settled into the asphalt:
Various engine parts:
Paul Bartley explaining how the engine block (above and below) tipped over and crushed the Willy's Jeep :-(
These are engine parts and materials for machining new parts which have been stored indoors on racks. WRH personnel and equipment will be required to assist in their removal:
Background article: https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/opinion/2006/03/15/nobska-revival-efforts-have-run/50304260007/