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Motel Ironsides Leaves Portsmouth
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Written by SeacoastNH Early Images
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THE USS CONSTITUTION
Yes, this is "Old Ironsides" as it looked when it left Portsmouth Harbor in 1897
and returned to Charleston, MA. Hey, maybe we didn’t make it look good, but we
kept the Old Gal alive for another couple of decades while she was here. Click
to see colorized postcards.
VISIT our Old Ironsides special section
Although "Old Ironsides" spent nearly 20 years in Portsmouth Harbor, this region
has been associated with the ebb of the ship's career since here she was "cabbed
over" by Navy order and turned into a receiving ship barracks.
We picked up these two postcards on eBay the other day. They show Old Ironsides
on display before her restoration. Laid up in Portsmouth, the ship was used as
a barracks from 1882 to 1897, but fared little better when towed to Charlestown,
Mass where the ship had been originally built in 1797. Remember that these are
"colorized" versions of black and white photos and do not necessarily represent
the ship’s actual paint colors at the time.
Following a big centennial celebration in Boston, Ironsides languished in Charlestown
in this condition from 1897 to 1907 when the "ugly barn" was removed from her
main deck. She also received new rigging and replica guns at a cost of $97,800.01.
It wasn't until 1927 that the true restoration began with public funds. Even while
the historic ship lay in Charlestown, the Navy considered using her as a target
ship and offered only token funds for restoration. But the removal of the barracks,
public financing and interest by Congress and Boston restorers finally did the
trick. Early in the 1930s Ironsides was towed around the USA, starting with a
return visit to Portsmouth, NH. --- JDR
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