Portsmouth Rotary Log for August 24, 2017
by Lindsey Hery
Photos by Sara Treacy
Portsmouth Rotarians convened on a wonderful late summer afternoon. We were greeted with smiles by Leonard Seagren. John Rice led us in the singing of America the Beautiful. Sara Treacy blessed our meal with the innovation. President Ben welcomed our many visiting Rotarians and guests, along with assistance from Natalie Petersen.
Announcements.
Rotary Reads is seeking book donations. A donation box will be in the back of the room at our future meetings. Members are encouraged to bring donations each week. Committee Chair Marie Brownell is seeking suggestions for additional sites that would welcome the donated books.
Craig Taylor has created a new virtual space to store pictures of our meetings and our events. If you have pictures that you’d like to keep on file, please email them to Craig at: ctaylor@neoscopeit.com. He will give you access to the drop box.
Happy Dollars and The 50/50 Raffle
Rotarians were especially happy at this week’s meeting. Donna Lewallen is celebrating her newest granddaughter. John Rice shared that our club’s former exchange student, Gaby, recently became a US Citizen. Others told us of their happy news which included anniversaries, visiting families and milestone birthdays.
This week’s raffle winner was Charlie Bourdages with a $44 prize. The bonus, which was $275, was not a match.
The program: The USS Albacore
Captain Sedor and Stanford Cross
Rotarian Stanford Cross introduced our returning speaker, Captain Gerald Sedor, USN (Ret.). Sedor has a long history of accomplishments. A Naval Academy graduate, he also holds degrees from UNH and MIT. CPT Sedor is currently vice president of the Portsmouth Submarine Association and the USS Albacore Park and Museum.
CPT Sedor addressed our club with many thanks for having him return as a speaker. During his last visit, he talked about Medal of Honor Winner Richard O’Kane and the USS Tang. This week’s focus was on the USS Albacore, its history and museum in Portsmouth.
Albacore was commissioned in 1953. It was designed to be a test platform for new innovations in submarines. So much so that she earned the nickname “The Forerunner of the Future.” This submarine would hold no weapons and no nuclear power. Instead, she was built to produce greater speed and underwater efficiency. That speed capability is still classified.
Sedor explained some of Albacore’s unique characteristics. Engineers modeled the shape of the Albacore after a blimp, with a rounder hull shape. The design created less water resistance and thus enhanced speed. Greater efficiency was further gained through her propeller configuration, dive breaks and a “dorsal fin” shaped rudder.
The USS Albacore was decommissioned in 1973. She was later towed to Portsmouth from Philadelphia, going on permanent display in 1985. The journey to its current Market Street Extension home was not without challenges. In order to float the submarine into its current location, engineers had to overcome several obstacles. A section of the highway and a railroad trestle had to be cut and a floating basin dredged. But the ship ran aground in the process. It was days later, before engineers were able to free it up and move her successfully into the basin. The club was impressed by the images that Sedor included of that historic and difficult move.
In January 2016, the Albacore Museum began new construction, closing to the public for several months. The museum is now open with many improvements including greater supports and a new basin. The museum remains one of the most visited tourist attractions in our area, with more than 36,000 annual visitors. Sedor encouraged us to visit the site and enjoy the improvements.
Join us on Thursday, August 31st to hear from former Red Sox star, Rico Petrocelli.
Respectfully submitted, Lindsey Hery
