12 August 2003

Saving New York's Historic Fireboat

by Liz Cho

Call it the little boat that could. Maybe you've seen the old red hulk on the Hudson. The John J. Harvey Fireboat was brought out of retirement to pump water on 9-11.

But now -- the Harvey is in trouble.

A new campaign's been launched to keep the Harvey afloat -- and a piece of New York history alive.

Onboard the John J. Harvey were today children from a police athletic league day camp in Brooklyn.

It may not be the ocean, but to these kids the open water is just as impressive. Today part of their attenton is on pilot Bob Lenney.

Lenny worked the boat for 25 years before both he, and the harvey, retired from the New York city fire department. Now a volunteer, his feelings for this historic boat run deep.

The Harvey's place in New York maritime history was all ready secure when it was called back to action on September 11th. With no other source of water available, the Harvey, along with FDNY fireboats, pumped water to firefighters working the site.

But now it is the Harvey itself that needs help. While the hands-on owners take care of daily maintence, it's long term survival is now in jeopardy -- the Harvey needs an overhaul.

But the work is expensive, costing about $700,000. And as the group struggles to raise the money, Bob Lenney can hardly stand the thought of falling short.

But they are nothing if not resoureful. And having saved the Harvey once, they are determined to find the support to save her again.

Owners of the Harvey have applied to the state for a grant for half of the money they need. But in order to get that, they have to raise matching funds.

To help out, you can visit the Harvey's Web site, www.fireboat.org, or drop by the boat itself. It's docked at Pier 11 on the North River.

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