The SS Homeric was build by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation which was launched on 18th July 1931 and completed Dec. 10th 1931, delivered the next day. She was named the Mariposa at first and was used in the Second World War by the US Navy in 1941. After the war, she was sold to the Home Lines and renamed the SS Homeric. She had a terrible fire in the galley in 1973 and it was not worth the cost of the repairs, so she was sent off to a scraping yard in Kaohsiung, Taiwan and broken up by Nan Feng Steel Enterprises Company. Her top speed was about 20 mph (22 knots). 147 First Class passengers and 229 Cabin Class with 359 crew. Maiden voyage was Feb 2 1932 from San Francisco to Honolulu to Sydney Australia. When my wife was a passenger on the SS Homeric, her mother said it was hard having to tell a 1 year old her breakfast would be one hour late each day, but the crew were so nice and made sure she got her boiled egg she loved every morning. My wife first walked alone on board this ship ~ so she got her sea legs before her land legs. She still remembers the port holes and how the bed was attached to the wall ~ her mother was shocked that she could remember these facts. It took my wife said it took 7 days to make the crossing. Lots of memories for her. My grandfather came across from Scotland to Toronto, Canada after WW 1 in hopes to find a new life for his family. He came on a different ship. He left his wife and children back in Scotland till he could secure a job and place to stay. But like many men, after the war(s) he could not find work here and returned to his wife and kids in Scotland. My wife's mother decided to move back to England to remarry in 1984. My wife came across on an extended visit and we met. 7 years later we decided we would move back to where she originally lived and we took a flight that was only 7 hours (not 7 days!) with our young boys. What is amazing, is that my Grandfather had a photo taken on Yonge Street (pronounced Young Street) as my wife told me when she first saw the photo with the address on it. Ironic that she first came on this ship and I returned to where you could say my Grandfather's dream ended ~ and I was able to make that dream a success. My wife still has her boarding pass from 1961 when she sailed on the SS Homeric and remembers one of the pieces of luggage her mother kept till it was water damaged in 1973 ~ same time the ship was broken up. It had the stickers on it saying SS Homeric, Home Lines. Thought I would share this info. Hope you liked reading it.
Glad to see a video about an outstanding American-built liner that deserves to be remembered. A surprise to see pictures of the scrapping, you don't see many scrapyard pictures of liners but I find them very interesting. I don't recall the name but long ago I saw a movie with Bob Newhart and Gene Wilder and the last scene was filmed at a pier where the Homeric was docked; must have been filmed just before she was withdrawn.
@@francescopittaluga9962 ...I'm not so sure you are correct (perhaps you are correct, but I'm saying not so sure)...I'm questioning this vid at timeline 2:52....see here another vid, for more---> ruclips.net/video/1xjSEDbttYQ/видео.html
If You check another picture referring to SS Italia, You can see how the decks layout is different. Italia had a long solarium deck with two swimming pools, Homeric only one pool as we can see here @@TheWilferch
@@francescopittaluga9962 ..Yes...I agree as I study even more finer details between the 2 ships. Thank you. As an aside, I have a personal reason to follow and get more information on the Italia. Can you suggest further information sources? I am particularly interested in which pier in New York Italia may have departed from...say...in 1958 (+/-).
@@TheWilferch There are many books about. In English I suggest "Passenger Liners Italian style" or "Greek Passenger Liners" by W.H.Miller. Many others in Italian, too. About the pier in NYC harbor, after 1960 Passenger Terminal, North River pier 92 foot of West 48th st. to West 52nd. Before, always along "luxury liners row" between piers 88 to 94 from 46th st. northbound.
The SS Homeric was build by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation which was launched on 18th July 1931 and completed Dec. 10th 1931, delivered the next day. She was named the Mariposa at first and was used in the Second World War by the US Navy in 1941. After the war, she was sold to the Home Lines and renamed the SS Homeric. She had a terrible fire in the galley in 1973 and it was not worth the cost of the repairs, so she was sent off to a scraping yard in Kaohsiung, Taiwan and broken up by Nan Feng Steel Enterprises Company.
Her top speed was about 20 mph (22 knots). 147 First Class passengers and 229 Cabin Class with 359 crew. Maiden voyage was Feb 2 1932 from San Francisco to Honolulu to Sydney Australia.
When my wife was a passenger on the SS Homeric, her mother said it was hard having to tell a 1 year old her breakfast would be one hour late each day, but the crew were so nice and made sure she got her boiled egg she loved every morning. My wife first walked alone on board this ship ~ so she got her sea legs before her land legs. She still remembers the port holes and how the bed was attached to the wall ~ her mother was shocked that she could remember these facts. It took my wife said it took 7 days to make the crossing. Lots of memories for her.
My grandfather came across from Scotland to Toronto, Canada after WW 1 in hopes to find a new life for his family. He came on a different ship. He left his wife and children back in Scotland till he could secure a job and place to stay. But like many men, after the war(s) he could not find work here and returned to his wife and kids in Scotland. My wife's mother decided to move back to England to remarry in 1984. My wife came across on an extended visit and we met. 7 years later we decided we would move back to where she originally lived and we took a flight that was only 7 hours (not 7 days!) with our young boys. What is amazing, is that my Grandfather had a photo taken on Yonge Street (pronounced Young Street) as my wife told me when she first saw the photo with the address on it. Ironic that she first came on this ship and I returned to where you could say my Grandfather's dream ended ~ and I was able to make that dream a success.
My wife still has her boarding pass from 1961 when she sailed on the SS Homeric and remembers one of the pieces of luggage her mother kept till it was water damaged in 1973 ~ same time the ship was broken up. It had the stickers on it saying SS Homeric, Home Lines. Thought I would share this info. Hope you liked reading it.
I have a picture of me, Mom and Dad in the Homeric's 2nd class dining room, 1957 (UK to Toronto)
My late Father was choice Trinity house Pilot for Home lines and we went to Cuxhaven from Southampton
My first cruise circa 1962.
Glad to see a video about an outstanding American-built liner that deserves to be remembered. A surprise to see pictures of the scrapping, you don't see many scrapyard pictures of liners but I find them very interesting. I don't recall the name but long ago I saw a movie with Bob Newhart and Gene Wilder and the last scene was filmed at a pier where the Homeric was docked; must have been filmed just before she was withdrawn.
Both my dad & mother took an SS Mariposa cruise in the fall of '62 in the South Pacific...life-changing...
Thank you for keeping alive a great bit of history
I travelled on the Homeric in August 1961 from France to Quebec - it was an incredible experience... I was 12 years old! :)
Me too! October 1957, to Montreal. The bread buns aroma at dinner still brings it to mind
my dad served on the mariposa but before 52
I think the ship shown at 2:52 is another ship....the Italia.
Sorry, You wrong. It's surely the Homeric! Francesco P. from Genoa-Italy
@@francescopittaluga9962 ...I'm not so sure you are correct (perhaps you are correct, but I'm saying not so sure)...I'm questioning this vid at timeline 2:52....see here another vid, for more---> ruclips.net/video/1xjSEDbttYQ/видео.html
If You check another picture referring to SS Italia, You can see how the decks layout is different. Italia had a long solarium deck with two swimming pools, Homeric only one pool as we can see here @@TheWilferch
@@francescopittaluga9962 ..Yes...I agree as I study even more finer details between the 2 ships. Thank you. As an aside, I have a personal reason to follow and get more information on the Italia. Can you suggest further information sources? I am particularly interested in which pier in New York Italia may have departed from...say...in 1958 (+/-).
@@TheWilferch There are many books about. In English I suggest "Passenger Liners Italian style" or "Greek Passenger Liners" by W.H.Miller. Many others in Italian, too. About the pier in NYC harbor, after 1960 Passenger Terminal, North River pier 92 foot of West 48th st. to West 52nd. Before, always along "luxury liners row" between piers 88 to 94 from 46th st. northbound.