THE FUTURE OF THE HUNLEY AS IT CONTINUES TO DRY OUT
November 2, 2010: Fred Tetor, Retired Mt. Pleasant Fire Chief, and a ten year Hunley restoration volunteer gave us both photos and facts about this amazing historical artifact. By great fortune a George Cook photo from the 1860’s was used to create an accurate painting of the submarine, in 1863, a painting so detailed it has provided valuable information for the restoration team.
With Charleston under almost total blockade the Hunley’s task was to stop the frigate Housatanic which was blocking the remaining channel opening. The blockade was starving the city and creating incredible inflation of the price of everything. Using a long spar torpedo, the Hunley rammed the frigate causing the magazine to blow and the ship to go down in minutes. What happened next is still a mystery. The Hunley disappeared, and was not seen again until 1995.
In the years of restoration much has been learned about the corrosion of metal that has been under the sea. Using x-rays and computer reconstruction images, along with the 1863 painting, many things that were inside the ship have been found, including dozens of buttons, a diamond brooch, a diamond ring, and the famous gold coin carried by Lt. Dixon.
The restoration is funded by Friends of the Hunley, ticket admission sales, and the support of Clemson University which has already developed research techniques about corrosion which will have world wide application. The next step is to rotate the sub into an upright position exposing a side yet unseen and un-worked. The electronic drying process is expected to take another 4 to 5 years. Eventually the sub will be visible out of its water container. Answers to questions from the audience gave the following information:
Still unknown is exactly why the Hunley sank.
There is no design information about the next generation of the Hunley class sub.
The Federal and State governments are no longer supporting the project.
Its permanent museum location is expected to be the old officer’s club at the Navy Base.
Reported by Fred Sales, Keyway Committee