Hilton family’s donation highlights Kate’s 100th birthday

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    GREENVILLE — A little rain couldn’t dampen the celebration of the steamship Katahdin’s 100th birthday in Greenville Saturday night as more than 200 people gathered for refreshments and tributes to the classic vessel.
    The real highlight of the evening, however, was a $250,000 donation from the family of the late Louis O. Hilton, a local philanthropist who was instrumental in the restoration of the “Kate.”

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    LOU HILTON LEGACY — The family of the late Louis O. Hilton presented a check for $250,000 to the Moosehead Marine Museum toward the maintenance of the Katahdin at the steamship’s 100th birthday celebration Aug. 16. Pictured, from left, Hilton’s daughter Karen Fresne; his widow, “B” Hilton; and Luke Muzzy, chairman of the museum’s board of directors.

    Hilton’s widow, “B” and her daughter, Karen Fresne, presented the check to Luke Muzzy, longtime chair of the Moosehead Marine Museum Board of Directors. “This was quite a surprise,” said Muzzy. “Lou did so much for the community and the Kate over the years. He even donated the land for the museum.”
    “B” Hilton said that her husband, who passed away in May 2013, “loved Greenville and anything connected to the Moosehead Lake region. We’re just glad that we’re able to do this.”
    The Katahdin was built by Bath Iron Works and embarked on its maiden voyage Aug. 20, 1914. The ship is 115 feet long, weighs 250 tons; and in her heyday, carried up to 500 passengers across the lake to resort areas like Mount Kineo.

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    POWER TO SAIL — Tom O’Neill is pictured by the Katahdin’s twin Fairbanks Morse diesel engines. The ship converted to diesel from steam in 1922, according to the Moosehead Marine Museum’s historical records.

    Once automobiles became the preferred mode of transportation in the 1930s, passenger service became less viable and the “Kate” was purchased by Scott Paper Co. and converted into a work vessel. It went into the history books by hauling 6,000 cords of pulpwood across Moosehead Lake in Maine’s last log drive on July 12, 1976.
The Katahdin was given to the Moosehead Marine Museum in 1977 and began to host passenger cruises in 1985. Over the years, however, extensive repairs were needed and Hilton — along with the late Elizabeth B. Noyce of Portland — contributed generously toward the restoration.
    The last major repairs were made in 2012, funded partially by a Community Development Block Grant secured through the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council. Prock Marine from Rockland built a dry dock and re-clad the Kate’s keel in October and November 2012, and the ship never lost any cruising time.
    The project was nicknamed “McKeil’s Keel” in honor of the late Richard “Duke” McKeil, longtime executive director of the Moosehead Marine Museum. His daughter, Liz Cannell, is the current executive director.

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    JOINING THE CELEBRATION — More than 200 people braved intermittent showers to celebrate the Katahdin steamship’s 100th birthday in Greenville Saturday night.

    Proclamations were read and presented at Saturday night’s birthday celebration from Gov. Paul LePage by State Rep. Peter Johnson, from Sen. Angus King by staffer Elizabeth MacTaggart, from U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud by field representative Chris Winstead and from Sen. Susan Collins by staff member Alix Rudzinski. Winstead also presented an American flag that flew over the nation’s capital to the Moosehead Marine Museum board.
    Cannell introduced representatives from Bath Iron Works, Cianbro Corp., Prock Marine and the Moosehead Lake Yacht Club, thanking them for their roles in the preservation of the Katahdin.
    Steve Pound of Cianbro said that he was proud that his company did a great deal of work on the steamship “at cost” because they knew how important it was to the community. “It’s our Kate and we need to continue to support it,” Pound said.
    Greenville Town Manager John Simko noted that no other community in Maine has a 100 year-old sailing ship docked in their downtown area. “It took folks like the (museum) board of directors and their supporters to make sure that this ship was restored and stayed in working order,” Simko said.
    The evening’s festivities were capped off with a cruise and fireworks display over Moosehead Lake.

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    ARTISTIC TOUCH — Greenville Key Club member Emma Bilodeau puts the finishing touches on Bianca Dostie’s face painting at the Katahdin 100th birthday celebration.

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    KATE TRIBUTE — Greenville Town Manager John Simko read a proclamation from the Board of Selectmen during the Aug. 16 celebration recognizing the Katahdin’s 100th birthday. Pictured in the background is Moosehead Marine Museum Executive Director Liz Cannell.