SS ''Charles Bulfinch'' was a Liberty ship built in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. She was named after

Charles Bulfinch Charles Bulfinch (August 8, 1763 – April 15, 1844) was an early American architect, and has been regarded by many as the first American-born professional architect to practice.Baltzell, Edward Digby. ''Puritan Boston & Quaker Philadelphia''. Tra ...

, an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

architect. Bulfinch is best known for his designs of the

Massachusetts State House The Massachusetts State House, also known as the Massachusetts Statehouse or the New State House, is the List of state capitols in the United States, state capitol and seat of government for the Massachusetts, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, lo ...

, and the wings and central portion of the

US Capitol The United States Capitol, often called The Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, which is formally known as the United States Congress. It is located on Capitol Hill at ...

Construction

'' Charles Bulfinch'' was laid down on 14 May 1943, under a

Maritime Commission The United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) was an independent executive agency of the U.S. federal government that was created by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, which was passed by Congress on June 29, 1936, and was abolished on May 24, 195 ...

(MARCOM) contract, MCE hull 999, by the

Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard The Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard of Baltimore, Maryland, was a shipyard in the United States from 1941 until 1945. Located on the south shore of the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River which serves as the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore, Ba ...

Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

, Maryland; she was sponsored by Mrs. Milton G. Baker, the wife of a yard employee, and was launched on 10 June 1943.

History

She was allocated to Luckenbach Steamship Company, on 22 June 1943. On 10 January 1948, she was laid up in the

Hudson River Reserve Fleet The Hudson River Reserve Fleet, formally the Hudson River National Defense Reserve Fleet and popularly the Mothball Fleet, was established by act of Congress in 1946 as a component of the National Defense Reserve Fleet. It was first located off T ...

, Jones Point, New York. On 4 May 1953, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be loaded with grain under the "Grain Program 1953", she returned loaded on 18 May 1953. On 25 November 1957, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be emptied of grain, she returned empty on 2 December 1957. On 10 October 1958, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be loaded with grain under the "Grain Program 1958", she returned loaded on 27 October 1958. On 19 October 1959, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be emptied of grain, she returned empty on 23 October 1959. On 15 November 1960, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be loaded with grain under the "Grain Program 1960", she returned loaded on 25 November 1960. On 8 March 1963, she was withdrawn from the fleet to be emptied of grain, she returned empty on 14 March 1963. On 7 January 1970, she was sold for scrapping to Steel Factors, Ltd., for $65,130. She was removed from the fleet on 1 May 1970.

References

Bibliography

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Charles Bulfinch Liberty ships Ships built in Baltimore 1943 ships Hudson River Reserve Fleet Hudson River Reserve Fleet Grain Program