The Amaryllis
** Update 2/6/2012 – Someone commented on this post today so I’ve added another picture here: Thanks Bridie Miller!
***Updated 2/22/2013 – Someone commented on this post again today (a year later) and I’ve tried to clean up some of the links and add pic’s
****Update 1/15/2021 – Going to try and fix some of these broken links and add a link to the video of Hurricane Betsy showing Palm Beach and the grounding of the Amaryllis. Well, I’ll put it here for now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8tsc7s8tnc
Strange how things just come together. I was loading some podcast onto my MP3 player today and noticed I had this picture of the Amaryllis. So I thought I’d do a search and see if I could find anything about this event in my life back in 1965. Here’s what I found: (This takes place in Singer Island, Florida, the area I grew up in)
The Story of Amaryllis
The day was September 9th, 1965. Gale force winds from Hurricane Betsy whipped the normally calm seas off Singer Island into a frenzied nightmare of 20-foot breakers and 80-mph winds. Palm trees leaned horizontally away from the onslaught, but many uprooted and were sent soaring by gusts of unthinkable velocity.
A lone ship struggled against uncertain odds. The Amaryllis was nearing the safety of the Palm Beach Inlet, but found itself being literally blown into the shallow waters less than a mile from the beach. The crew made desperate attempts to compensate for the winds and the storm damaged steering, but the gale force winds were too much and the foundering ship grounded on the shore immediately in front of the Rutledge Inn.
As dawn broke, so did the fury of the storm. Where last night had been a beautiful beach, now rested the storm beaten wreck of the Greek banana freighter, Amaryllis. As the day went on it soon became evident that that this great 450 foot ship would be resting here for some time.
Shortly thereafter, local surfers found the ship to be one of the most spectacular surf spots in the area. A little more than three years later, the foundered ship was finally removed from the beach, and towed out to its final resting spot about one half mile from shore in about 75 feet of water.
Here are some memories of other people whose lives were touched by this ship:
http://www.singerislandcondos.us/blog/singer-island-history-the-amaryllis-wreck.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaryllis_(ship)
Some good photos here: https://hspbc.pastperfectonline.com/photo/BD63DCB4-33AC-4BD5-A45F-774419693124
Okay, so WHY did I post this? Well, because I lived in the area where this happened back in Florida and we used to go down to see the ship a lot. I mean it was bigger than life! At least to me it was. I would have been…lets see, 11 years old, when this happened, and I can remember going down to the beach with my family and seeing this HUGE ship jammed into the beach! It was the biggest darn thing I’d had ever seen! And I remember the longer it sat there the cooler the beach became. I mean on one side the beach was being built up, but on the other side it was being washed away. So much so that it uncovered a reef that must have been covered over years before, but now it was a brand new place for fish, sea urchins, moray eels, lobsters, you name it, came and populated it.
What was cool, was that the people on the boat just started hucking things over the side and each thing they threw over would eventually become encrusted with barnicles and sea creatures and would start a reef of their own. It also created territories for barracuda’s to guard! That was the scary part! You would be skin diving and come across a piece of the ship and there would be a BIG barracuda guarding it’s treasure and they would NOT back down! You could go up to them and the just stay there and wouldn’t budge. You could see their fins go up in like a warning, “stay away buddy, or there’s gonna be trouble!”, but if you continued pushing closer to them, they would eventually back down. But MAN, those teeth! (These pictures are not mine, but they show how big these things are, and they look even BIGGER underwater!)
I remember a time I was diving with a good friend of mine, Mike Ellis, and he always wore a St. Christopher’s medal, and one day we were out on the reef and all of a sudden a BIG cuda swam right underneath Mike because he was curious about the “shinny thing” hanging off of Mike neck. That always made me wonder, “Why do they make diving mask with a nice shinny chrome ring around the glass?”.
Well eventually they must have thrown enough stuff off of the ship so that they were able to get a couple of tug boats and pull it off the shore. Wow, what a sight!
My son and I were on a diving trip in Singer Island after JUST he was certified in Pocatello, ID when he was 16. His checkout dive was a 23 foot dive in a hot springs in winter and all he had to do was retrieve a golf ball at the bottom. On our way out the inlet they told us we’d be doing 3 dives on this trip. I turned to my son and gave him a thumbs up! “On the 1st drive”, the captain was speaking, “you will see 5 wrecks”, again I gave my son a thumbs up, “we will be in 90 feet of water and doing a drift dive”…I turned to my son and said, “Oh…no worries, we’ll skip this one, it’s way to advanced for either of us”….the captain continued, “and on this dive you will see…..the Amaryllis”….”Oh SHOOT! Nate, I’ve GOT to dive on this!!!” HA! So we did, and it was amazing! It’s also amazing we lived to tell about it. I mean my son had JUST gotten his license and no way were we ready to do this kind of a dive. But we did and it’s something we both will never forget, and yes, I touched the side of ship just like I did when I was 11.
Here’s a few links for more interesting stuff on Amaryllis:
https://db0nus869y26v.cloudfront.net/en/Amaryllis_(ship)
Here’s a few more photos:
http://rbhsreunion.com/photo-gallery/?_gallery=gg-1-17#
http://rbhsreunion.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Amaryllis.jpg?gid=1
Grounded by hurricane ‘Betsy’, freighter remains unsalvaged in 1967. (Photo by Mark Kauffman/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images)
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Trimoot's Weblog 
Hi there,
I am so happy to find your blog! I grew up in the West Palm area too (4th generation) and I am currently working on a history project about Rybovich boats (my family’s WPB boatyard) and their involvement in the fishing industry’s conservation movement.
I’m too young to remember the Amaryllis but my parents have great memories of it. In fact, my grandfather and his brother actually worked to turn the Amaryllis (and a few other ships) into the eco-friendly artificial reef that it is today.
I am in the process of working on an essay about the Amaryllis reef (specifically my family’s involvement in it) for a book about my family’s boatyard and I am looking for a good picture of it to include in the essay. I have found a couple pictures here and there on the internet, but the one on your blog really captures the spirit of the beach, and the absolute strangeness of the freighter parked so close to the beach! Where did you find that image? Do you know if it is copyrighted, or who I could talk to about possibly using it? Seeing it on your blog really gave me a sense of what those times must have been like.
Thanks a lot!
Lisa
Also I came across this article about surfing the Amaryllis, you might enjoy it: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/accent/content/accent/epaper/2009/03/03/a1d_surfing_web_0303.html that you might enjoy.
It was great to stumble onto your site about the Amaryllis.
I was having a ‘memory conversation’ with my mother when I goggled the Amaryllis and founf your site.
I lived on Singer Island that year while our house was being built in North Palm Beach.
I went to Riveria Beach HS from ’65 to ’67, (class of ’69)
I also started surfing at the Amaryllis and still have some of my best teenage memories from those days.
Surfing there and the social comunity at that time was a perfect expierence.
Best of life to all.
Birdie Miller
I used to live at 1264 Surf Road on Singer Island across A1A from the Rutledge. I had a small Surf Shop up near Steen’s Seafood Restaurant. I hung around with Timmy Cannon alot at Cannons Port Marina on the Lake Side My mother and I owned and operated the Snack Bar by the pool at the Colonnades Beach Hotel from 71 to 74. Was a beautiful place to grow up. Alot of great great memories. When the Amaryllis was blown onto the beach, I was a Cameraman for WPTV Channel 5 in Palm Beach and we covered the story of the Amaryllis and did a on the scene report with Capt. Jack Smith.
Tommy Crenshaw
Tom
It is a small world. We lived at 1159 Surf Road (next door to the Smiths that were next door to the Nagels) till mid 1970. I have lived in Martin County, Fl since then. The Amaryllis days were the best! Singer Island was just paradise. If Lisa see’s this, I have a home made post card from1969 with a photo of the Amaryllis that may be interesting to her. A close friend of my Mom’s made the postcard and sent it to her co-workers in West Palm Beach.
I grew up in this area and I also hung around cannons port with Tom cannon I think Timmy was his brother.
Tommy Cannon, was one of my sister’s first boyfriends, Sue Odum.
Hi Lisa,
Photos of the ship are currently on display at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach. It is part of the exhibit of the Palm Beach County Surfing History Project. surfhistoryproject.org
There are quite a few photos of the ship in the exhibit, but there are hundreds more of the ship (including the photo included above) as part of the M.E. Gruber photo collection owned by the Project. I am one of the Trustees of the Project, a non-profit charity, and we may be able to help you include something in your book.
All the best,
Tom Warnke
Lake Worth
Tom,
Thanks so much for replying to Lisa. I too will check out “surfhistoryproject.org” site. Ah..those were great days!
Paul
Hey Tom – We used to vacation on Singer Island back in the 60s when I was very young. I remember this ship. Can you tell me whatever happened to the property “The Reef”. I am sure it has been replaced by a Hilton or Marriot. Thanks for any info.
Just for the possibility of one of these guys reading this.
I was friends with, Bubba Saunders, Dickie Goldstine, Betsy Fuller, Jack Ryan.
I surfed, played football and ran track for RBHS.
Life was great down there.
I moved to NJ in the summer of 1967,
(that was hard after living in North Palm Beach)
Lifes been great up here, just not as much sun!
Birdie Miller
Small world I too know bubba, Dickie, Betsy, Jack I also played football ran track and swimming.
Don Paluska
Hey Don, thanks for stopping by and posting. Your name sounds familiar but I’d have to go back to my year book to see if you’re there. Did you go to Riviera High / Sun Coast? We were just down in there in Singer Island this past April. Still a great place to swim/dive and hang out. My wife and I did some snorkeling around the old pump house. This time we didn’t dive at the old wreck site where the reef is. That area is looking pretty worse for the wear. Still love it tho. Thanks again for your post.
My guess is that we must have been on the same teams. But my mind is fading (fast) sorry
Hi Do, What years were you at RBHS? I was there for my freshman and sophomore years 64 to 66. Are you still in touch with Bubba, Dickie, Jack or Betsy? Just recently the reunion commitee got in touch with me to see if I could attend the class of ’69 reunion… That was a blast out of the past! Take Care
In the sixty’s my family used to vacation at McDonalds Villas on Singer Island. A fond memory I have is my dad taking us to the ship. It seems he knew someone involved with the ship and we were able to climb up the rope ladder and board the ship. What a neat thing that was to doas a 10 year old. I’m visiting Singer Island again for the first time this weekend. I hope it still has some of the charm it had back them.
Mike, wow! That MUST have been amazing! It was a very cool time. So funny, I thought, no, I KNEW as soon as I had the guts to go up to it and touch the side of the ship it would absolutely tip over and fall on me! But I finally worked up the courage and touched it, and then 30 years later, along with my 16 year old son, we got to touch it in 90 feet of water. So amazing!
Well, I love Singer Island and have been back many times with my kids and wife, and most recently in 2008 when my Mom passed away, and while it still holds many memories (I even did a small triathlon there, so cool! I couldn’t decide if I was going to race it or just cruise along and enjoy the scenery as every corner held memories!) it certainly has changed. If you love snorkeling, I would recommend going over to Peanut Island and depending on the tide you’ll have a wonderful dive around the Island. Very enjoyable! Have a good trip and ride a wave for me.
Paul
What I remember most about it was standing on the deck looking down at some very large pistons. They had taken the heads of apparently. There was also a HUGE prop on the deck. Likely taken off after the grounding and of course being totaly freaked out climbing up a rope ladder from the sand to the top deck. I’d love to finds some pictures to see if I’m remembering correctly.
Mike, if you do find the pictures, I would LOVE to see them, and with your permission post them on the blog. It’s so funny. I started this blog just to record my triathlon’s and such, and the Amaryllis post has generated the most hits! So funny. Thanks for posting!
we moved from concord new hampshire in the middle of the winter in 1966, (eleven years old) never having been to fla (or out of new England),
woke up in the morning, staying at the Rutledge inn, ran through the grass again not knowing about stickers, to see the ship. a wild experience
then built a house at 1210 dolphin lane, right across the street from the Rutledge
the ship was great for the beach, tidal pools, surfing etc
at the age of 12 sneaking onto the rusting carcass and snorkeling in hull in the intruding sea was special
(as well as sneaking into the Rutledge when it closed)
Eric, Awesome! I just Googled the address and used street view. MAN! I wish I was there right now! (I’m in Spokane, WA and it’s snowing right now…ugh!)
I have a longer version of your story that I think I might post on my blog in the near future. We came down on vacation when I was 5 or 6 and stayed at 1200 E Blue Heron Blvd, Riviera Beach, FL which was a motel and my Dad refused to go back to Ohio. My grandmother fly down and had to talk my Dad into going back, selling off his Radio and TV business and THEN move back down, which we did and lived there for a year. Best time in my life! My Mom and I would walk to the beach almost everyday. Awesome memories! Thanks for sharing Eric!
Hey, Just an update here. I found the location of where we lived: 1250 E Blue Heron Blvd, Riviera Beach, FL. We lived in the end unit on the right. Wow..I need to leave work and just reminisce about all these memories.
btw
I was the paper boy for singer island
Eric, I went ahead and removed all the contact info as I’m sure you don’t want the everyone who reads this blog to call or mail you. Oh wait…no one reads this…never mind. 😉
We do read it Paul…
I found this page while searching for info on the Amaryllis. Did you go to Howell Watkins Jr. High? I went to Watkins and Riviera Beach High. Riviera High later became Suncoast High School. We lived on Singer Island till mid 1970 when we moved to Martin County, Florida. My last name was Maritano until 1969 and was changed to Gavitt. The Amaryllis days (or daze) were an amazing time.
Like Eric, I too had a paper route on Singer Island. I had the morning Palm Beach Post route in Palm Beach Shores. A friend of mine delivered the Palm Beach Post Final on the island which was the evening newspaper. I still have a copy of the Palm Beach Post the day man landed on the moon. I probably shorted somebody… 🙂
Singer Island was the best place to be a teenager that I can imagine…
Mark, Yes, I went to Howell Watkins, then to RBH and graduated in 72. I think it was the 2nd graduating class of Suncoast, 71 being the 1st..I think. Sort of a blur these days.
I lived in North Palm, and probably should have gone to Palm Beach Gardens, but since my brother and sister went to RBH I decided I wanted to go there and graduate from there as well.
I LOVED growing up in Florida and spent as much time as I could at the beach. I used to ride my bike there, to Singer Island..gosh, I should figure out how far that was. I remember it was a long and exciting day when I would ride my bike. (Ha! Just checked, it was 5 miles!! Seemed like forever when I was a kid!)
I miss the ocean a LOT! My Dad still lives in Florida, in Melbourne, in fact we’ll be heading down there to see him in July..can’t wait!
Even though we lived in Palm Beach I always felt Singer Island was my home. I loved going there. As soon as I had a car I used to get up early, park by the Hilton (There’s a park there now) and sit on the beach waiting for the sun to get up high enough where I wasn’t freezing, then snorkel all day long. Loved it! That reef back then was ALIVE! I’ve been on it recently and it’s dead dead dead…so sad. But back then, man there was everything! Lobster, Moray eel’s, sea slugs, TONS of sea urchins, star fish..you name it, we had it. It looks so sad now, I don’t even bother going back over there when we visit. We do however head over to little peanut island and dive on those small reefs, and around the corner where it’s deeper. That at least has a little life.
Thanks again for your post.
Paul
There is a name I just remembered ”Howell Watkins” Jr. High. I went there also i think for 2 years, Birdie Miller
St Francis and Cardinal Newman
Bridge was up was a valid excuse for being late to school
HA! That’s true! I think I remember some people saying that. What years were you at RBH/Suncoast?
9.St Francis and Cardinal Newman
My wife and I visited Singer Island last summer. It was the late 60’s last time I was there. We stayed at the Hilton I believe. It’s right next door to the motel location where the ship came ashore. The motel is gone now but I couldn’t believe that at low tide a reef appears just yards off shore. People can just walk right out to it and on to it. I’m sure this is the reef that was exposed during the grounding. Or at least I choose to believe that. Sure did bring back a lot of memories of my childhood. I live in Daytona now and you just don’t see that up here. Also, a refuge raft had washed ashore the day before we got there…. Only in South Florida do you see this
Yup..that’s the same reef I used to snorkel to all the time, and the one I mentioned earlier in the comments. It was so funny, during low tide I would just sit on my butt in a couple feet of water and watch as people walked out to the reef. They had NO idea what was swimming around them….barracuda! Lots of them! Some of them would step on sea urchins and all the small fish would have a feast. It was like I was watching a movie. All these uninformed newbies trampling all over the reef and destroying everything they could pick up. Oh, I admit to cracking open a couple of sea urchins to feed the fish too and watch as they would eat right out of my hand, but it soon dawned on me (I was probably about 14 or 15) that if everyone did this there wouldn’t be anymore urchins left, so I stopped.
I remember one time laying on the beach (I’d get cold after a couple hours of snorkeling) letting the sun warm me up, and hearing a commotion. I sat up and saw people pointing out to the reef. I looked and saw some people snorkeling just past the front of the reef and then I saw to the south two fins racing towards the snorkelers…SHARKS! Everyone was up and yelling for people to get out of the water, all yelling SHARK! SHARK! SHARK! And the more we yelled the closer the fins got to the two snorkelers! Finally about 10 feet away both snorkelers shot up out of the water, just as the two fins jumped up and cleared the water. Porpoises! Dark colored dolphins! Oh my gosh! You could hear everyone on the beach just start laughing! I bet those two snorkelers have never forgotten that moment!
Loved that reef.
Thanks for sharing Mike.
Thanks for your history on the Amaryliss. I remember standing on the beach the day my photo was taken with the ship grounded in the background. Brings back some wonderful memories.
Yes, it’s funny, of all the post on my silly blog, this one has gotten the most attention.
Thanks for sharing.
Paul
Hey Paul
I still have the yearbooks from Howell Watkins. In the 1967 “Seminole” yearbook, we are in the seventh grade, I am on page 56, you are on page 57. 1968 we are on pages 45 and 46. Those were the daze.
Like anyone that experienced Singer Island in the 1960’s it was the perfect place and time to be a teenager. It is where we learned to free dive and spearfish. I tried surfing but it was not my sport…. We fished and snorkeled like there was no tomorrow. In the summer I wore my Birdwells, that’s all I needed, no shirt, no shoes. A bicycle, my dive gear and a fishing rod, and I was gone for the day. Sometimes we would ride our bicycles north to Munyon Island for a little adventure. We used to test each other by diving off of the little Phil Foster bridge into the crystal clear water. If you were good enough you would bring up a handful of sand to prove you made it to the bottom. If you were really good you would occasionally retrieve a sea biscuit or sand dollar.
I live about 40 miles north of Singer island now and occasionally visit the Island. Some areas like much of the residential part of Palm Beach Shores are nearly the same as they were. Other parts you would not recognize. Our school bus stop was at a huge vacant oceanfront property. Now there is a condo about 30 stories tall where we got off the bus. Some days we would get off the bus and walk straight home, many days there was a detour to the beach. 🙂 I am so glad we lived there when we did. It was the best!
Thanks for starting this discussion Paul.
Yeah..those were the daze! HA!
Good memories, thanks for sharing!
We’re heading down to see my Dad who lives in Melbourne. Hoping to get back to Singer Island and dive around Little Peanut island. Did that last time and enjoyed it. Even my son and his wife when there. I miss the ocean so badly, but I’ve always had a thing for the mountains too. Torn between two lovers? HA!
Good hearing from you Mark!
Hey Mark…just looking at the comments again. I just came back from Singer Island. Spent a few days there while we were down visiting my Dad who lives in Melbourne. I NEVER get tired of Singer Island and some of the places I used to hang out. I sometimes get a sad feeling when I look at how much things have changed, but on the other hand, it’s not too bad either. Phil Foster Park now has that great man made reef, and of course Peanut Island is not a bad way to spend the day. Ha..yeah I used to surf a little, and last month when we were down I tried it again up at Melbourne…yikes..not so good! But it was fun trying. Well, anyway, enjoyed re-reading your comments. Take care Mark.
Hi All, Birdie Miller here. I went to Howell Watkins (I think and probably still have that year book, I think it was called the Seminal or something like that. I went to RBHS class of ’69. Friends with Bubba saunders, Dickie Golstein, Jack Ryan, Betsy Fuller…(all I can remember right now) we spent lots of time on the beach at the Amaryllis.
The year I move to that area is the year Hurricane Betsy shoved her into the beach. I was living in a hotel where the main road came onto Singer Island while our house was being built in North Palm Beach. I do have lots of great memories (as a teenager) life was a blast there!!!!!!!!! I was in that area I think from 7th to 10th grade. Then I move to NJ for 11-12 grade, ugh. Anyway if anyone knows the people I mentioned or me, let me know. Good luck to all!
Paul
We were probably in the Keys doing a little lobster diving. Diving is one thing I have stuck with since were were kids on Singer Island. The good thing is our whole family loves it as well! It sounds like you had a nice visit. I see your email address below in a newer post. I probably have a photo or two I can send you.
Hey Mark, That’s very cool. Man I did see a LOT of bugs while on my two dives. (You can read the new post about the dive by going here, but beware..it’s LONG! https://trimoot.wordpress.com/2013/08/06/groupers-not-groupies-or-how-i-spent-my-summer-vacation/)
Yes, if you have some photo’s scan and send them to TriMoot@gmail.com and I’ll post them. In fact I may start up another post on the Amaryllis as people continue to comment on it. So funny. Take are Mark, so glad you’re enjoying life!
My husband and I had just moved out onto Singer Island at the time of the beaching of the Amaryllis. John had learned how to surf in Pensacola a couple of years earlier. Since then, he’d been living in Hawaii and California [that’s where we met, on a surfing beach in San Diego] prior to moving East for work. He’d been spoiled by the fine surf conditions out west so was pretty excited that there was finally a respectable break on our new home beach. He’d almost been ready to retire his board when Hurricane Betsy drove the ship onto Singer Island.
It was an amazing sight and provided many many hours of recreation.
Mimi, Thank you so much for adding your comment! I was just down vacationing there this past July and was visiting my Dad who lives in Melbourne. As I was going through photo’s I found a few pictures of the Amaryllis along with my Dad, sister and brother all standing next to it! HA! What a hoot! Of course you can barely see us as my Mom had tried to get the entire ship in. Such great memories! If you happen to stumble across any pictures feel free to send them to me at TriMoot@gmail.com and I’ll post them on my blog. Thanks!
i remember that pic your guy’s hair cuts were AWFUL!!!!!!!
I came across your blog and really enjoyed the memories. I too grew up in WPB area and remember all the time spent at the Rutledge. My Father new the savage guy and bought the hugh metal door that lead to the bridge. He later built a house on the Intracoastal north of PGA and had a crane lower it through the roof and set it in concrete as the entrance to his den (man cave) in 1969. My Mother still lives in the house and the Amaryllis room still has a unique feel to it.
Wow! That is amazing! I would love to see a picture of that! Speaking of that, do you have any pictures of the Amaryllis? There is a gal who is writing a book about Palm Beach during that time and is looking to put some pictures in it. If you have any please contact her at ruth.the.writer@gmail.com. In fact any of you folks that have already commented here might want to shoot her a line if you do have pictures.
Mark, thank you for commenting. This is the ONLY post that I get comments on. It certainly was a very special time in my life and I always go back to that area every time I go back (which I’ll be doing soon! WOOHOO!) Thanks again for commenting. Paul.
The picture of the Amaryllis jogged my memory. We vacationed each winter on Singer Island at a place called “The Reef”. I remember the big ship and the waves it created. I suppose “The Reef” has been bulldozed and replaced by a Hilton or Marriott.
Hey Roy, Thanks for the post. Yes, I think it’s the Hilton that replaced it, not 100% sure, but that’s the one we stay in when we go back there and the “Reef” that I always dove on is just a few yards north of the Hilton. If you have any pictures please them them my way at TriMoot@gmail.com and I’ll add them to the post and of course give you credit for them. I have a couple and for some reason I just haven’t gotten around to posting them. BTW: Here’s a link to a video of the Amaryllis DURING the storm (Hurricane Betsy)! Can you believe it? Someone with an old camera actually caught the BIG ship being blown into the beach! The 1st part is Lake Worth area and then probably the Port of Palm Beach and then at the :55 mark you see the ship! So cool! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8tsc7s8tnc
I have pic’s of door. can you give email address to send
You bet Mark, TriMoot@gmail.com and thanks!
I’m so happy to find your story. I was living in W.Palm in 66. My buddy Joe and I were looking around for a beach to fly a kite, lo and behold we came upon this huge ship on the beach. Wow?! We got the watchman onboard some cigarettes and a cheap bottle of wine and he let us climb that scary ladder then the ship’s rope ladder onto the boat. We explored every inch we could. There was a jeep on the stern, and charts and some furniture, lots of junk. What a day. I was a bartender at night. so. I would go nearly every day,I learned everthing about It. I have more stories.
Thanks Dennis for posting. I just sent you a long email..sorry. I would LOVE to hear more stories and now I’m convinced I need to do a new post with more pictures and stories from so many people who have commented here. Mark Van Son sent me a picture of a door his Dad somehow got a hold of and used it on his “Man Cave” room in his house! So cool. And another gal, Ruth, wrote a book about growing up in the area and just this month is having a launch party. What an amazing time in our life’s that was. So yes, please respond to my email and I’ll take some time over the weekend to put together a new post.
I too got to climb that scary ladder and onto the boat. By that time the engine was torn down and I could see these huge pistons and a huge propellor on the deck. I was about 8 years old at the time and I have to tell you it was very impressive. It’s funny the things that burn into you memory.
We used to vacation at a place called McDonalds Villa. That was back before high rises ever found Singer Island. I looked for it recently but it seems it’s gone the way of the dodo bird.
Lived in north palm beach went to Pbg high school surfed the ship until the drug it out to sea. In 1970 moved to Virginia surfed Virginia beach for a few summers then kinda got away from it. Went to school got a job at quantico,FBI. Moved back to Florida last year to mount Dora, was looking in same boxes and found some pictures my mom had in storage. Boy did they bring back the old days. Played football and was on the swim team with bill Keaton. Found the surf sight and ordered some canvas wraps for pictures in the house. Hope to hear from you soon.
Hey Rick! Thanks for commenting. Do any of the photos show the ship? Oh..and did you know Mike Ellis over in PBG HS? He and I were good friends but I chose “SunCoast HS” over PBG even though I lived in NPB and had to provide our own transportation since we lived out of the school district. My brother and sister graduated from Rivera Beach HS so I wanted to do the same but because of integration they changed the school name. My Dad still lives in Florida, although he’s up in Melbourne, so whenever we visit (I’m in Spokane, WA) I still enjoy going down there, although the reef where the ship used to be is in pretty sad shape..very abused and not much life anymore…so sad. Anyway, thanks for stopping by. Man..I really need to update that Amaryllis post as many of the links are not working. Again, thanks for stopping by and let me know about those photos as I would love to post some new ones.
Paul
Most of the pictures I have found so far are from juno,the pump house hobe sound and fort pierce. The name mike Ellis sounds familiar. Went to Howell l Watkins in jr. High. When I started surfing started surfing with Pete Huttinger,who lived across the street from the ship. I will keep looking for more pictures. Went down to singer island a few months ago stayed at the holiday inn which I think was just down the beach from where the ship was. Boy has that place changed over the years. Every thing looks so different around the area.
Hi folks! Living in Liverpool, I watched–as a 15-year-old shipping enthusiast making the best of his scholl summer holiday–the WW2 Fort/Park class (standard-type) Canadian-built freighter Amaryllis sailing, either part-cargo or in ballasted condition, from the Mersey in late August 1965. The weather was very calm, with excellent visibility, the ship disappearing slowly over the horizon–a very clear memory to this day. I understood–much later on–that she had grounded on the Florida coast after developing steering trouble in heavy weather, and was eventually towed off the beach and sunk as a fish-reef.
Peter Kenrick, WOW! What a very cool post. You saw one side, and we here in Florida saw the other…so crazy. Thank you so much for posting this, and I apologize for not noticing until now.
I need to update all these links! Here’s a link to the video of Hurricane Betsy in 1961 which captured the Amaryllis running aground…pretty cool. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8tsc7s8tnc