Summary
In mid-March 1971, the Coast Guard cutter Sundew made two visits to Beaver Island to deliver gasoline, fuel oil, bottle gas, and a new radiator for one of the generators at the island power plant. The Beaver Beacon says the cutter had to break through about 2½ feet of blue harbor ice and took several attempts to reach the dock.
At the request of Jewell Gillespie through Representative Phil Ruppe, the visit also became a community event: school was dismissed and Lt. Cmdr. Burl Williams gave the children a tour of the cutter. The article calls Sundew the first vessel in the harbor since the end of December.
Evidence and limits
The source gives only a mid-March date and says there were two visits. It does not identify the Coast Guard unit number, exact berth, generator, fuel quantity, or official request and port-call records.
Open questions
- Which Coast Guard log identifies the two visits, crew, and exact dates?
- What power plant and generator received the radiator?
- What fuel quantities and harbor conditions were recorded?
See also
- Sundew (1963 Coast Guard cutter visit)
- Lt. Cmdr. Burl Williams (1971 Sundew visit)
- Beaver Island power plant (1971 supply report)
- Saint James Harbor
Sources
- Beaver Beacon, March 1971, “Sundew Visits.”Reports two mid-March visits by Coast Guard cutter Sundew at Jewell Gillespie’s request through Representative Phil Ruppe, delivery of gasoline, fuel oil, bottle gas, and a radiator for a power-plant generator, icebreaking through approximately 2½ feet of blue ice, and a schoolchildren’s tour led by Lt. Cmdr. Burl Williams; it does not provide exact dates, a port log, or the generator’s identity.