The story behind a postcard
Photo by A.J. Cameron
Both Floating Hospitals appear together in this postcard, but neither would be named as we know them. The new boat on the left was known then simply as the “Floating Hospital” while the older boat on the right was named the “Robert Fulton.”
In 1972 it was reported that “new marine regulations and advances in medical technology have joined to make the Lloyd I. Seaman obsolete.” (1) The new ship, built by Blount Marine Corporation, Warren, Rhode Island, would take two years to complete.
For its replacement, the Guild turned to George G. Sharp Co., naval architects, the same company that designed the Lloyd in 1935. Mr. Sharp himself had been a Trustee from 1927 until his death in 1960. He had emigrated from the UK in 1902, working as chief draftsman for various merchant and naval shipbuilders before founding his own firm in 1920. He gained a reputation for creative solutions to design problems, most notably in developing fire-proof construction methods, and eventually became known as the “dean of ship designers.” Among many career highlights, he was one of the chief designers of the WWII Victory ships, escort aircraft carriers, and C4 type troop ships.
The new vessel made its first appearance in April, 1974 at Pier 15 in lower Manhattan. “Named the ‘Floating Hospital,’ the 190-foot vessel is a summer day camp, a recreation center, a breezy gateway and, most importantly, a health care facility for the underprivileged children of New York.” The cost was $2.5 million. Dr. E. Hoyt Palmer, who had been with the hospital since 1948, said “it makes medical care attractive. It’s very hard to get these kids into hospitals or doctor’s offices to be examined. This boat works like a charm.” (2)
The 38-year-old Lloyd I. Seaman was sold to the South Street Seaport Museum and renamed the “Robert Fulton” for use as a restaurant. If you look closely, you’ll see that her fake smokestacks have been removed.
First sails
The first sail of the new boat was May 22, 1974, with several hundred children aboard. (3) On June 17, the Mayor’s wife, Mary Beame, christened the boat at the pier right below Gracie Mansion before going onboard for a dinner-dance fundraising cruise down the East River to the Statue of Liberty. (4)
The official season began July 1, 1974 with a sail up the Hudson River. The first ten sails of each season were held for seniors, with the rest of the season given over to the family cruises. “There are five clinics onboard, a large dental room, three more clinics for psychological and social services. Three doctors and two nurses, as well as 90 auxiliaries, who assist the medics, bring the kids on and off the ship, play with them, pass out the box lunches and afternoon snacks everyone gets on the cruise.” (5)
Breaking a glass ceiling
Captain Charles Reilly shared his experiences in a profile by the Daily News, starting with being a deck boy in 1926, and professed his early reservations, typical for 1974, about having women in his deck crew. He did acknowledge that after training everything was fine, and noted the handful of women taking roles in the Navy and Merchant Marine as signs of the times. (6)
Lila Acheson Wallace
With the help of Mayor Beame, the ship would finally get the name we know it by in 1977, three years after its first sail. “With a crash of champagne and the release of hundreds of balloons from its smokestack, the good ship Lila Acheson Wallace [after the Reader’s Digest philanthropist] was christened at the South Street Seaport, and then set off with hundreds of young passengers for a day-long cruise up the East River.” In addition to 4-year old David Lando who was honored as the 5 millionth passenger, there was also an airedale terrier who was appearing as “Sandy” in the Broadway production of Annie at the time. (7)
Sources:
“Young and Old Revel Aboard Hospital Ship.” Daily News, July 30, 1972
“New Ship Comes In for the Poor Children if the City.” Daily News, April 10,1974
“A Welcome and a Thank You.” Daily News, May 23, 1974
“A Mercy Crew for the Floating Hospital.” Daily News, June 11, 1974
“RX: A Fun-Filled Voyage” Daily News, July 2, 1974
“No Wheel in the Wheelhouse.” by Sidnet Fields. Daily News, July 4, 1974
“Med-Ship Is Hailed & Aweigh It Goes,” by Sheryl McCarthy. Daily News, August 19, 1977