FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2003

Contact: Frank Lennon
      (401) 831-8696

The fire was confined to the fourth floor, two levels above Saratoga's home. The automatic sprinkler system extinguished the fire very quickly. However, water pouring down at the rate of 60 gallons per minute caused extensive damage to the offices below.

First on the scene was long-time Saratoga volunteer Bob Albee. "When I saw the water six inches deep in the office, my heart just sank to my shoes. It's almost more than we can handle after all the work we've put in. We had hope when we saw the tarps the fire department had put down, but that was soon dashed. Everything had already been ruined before they got the tarps down. Even the desk drawers and file cabinets were filled with water."

Anticipating an expansion of operation - Governor Carcieri will kick off a major fundraiser at his Saunderstown home June 8 -- the museum had been building up its inventory of office equipment (CPUs, printers, monitors, copiers, fax machines, etc.) some donated, some purchased. All are now water soaked and probably beyond repair.

Also lost were hundreds of files relating to engineering studies, financial planning, and other work in progress.

"This is going to set us back, there's no doubt about that," acknowledged Frank Lennon, Foundation president. "Fortunately, all of the work on computer was backed up off-premises. The photography, engineering drawings and most of the illustrations can also be reproduced, but it will take time and cost money," he concluded.

Most disheartening was the damage to five years worth of artifacts, memorabilia, books, photos, scrapbooks, and uniforms collected from Saratoga veterans and in the process of being inventoried and cataloged for eventual display. A half dozen volunteers spent hours Friday and Saturday removing more than 100 photos and artwork from soaked frames to try to save them. The Foundation had spent thousands of dollars framing material for future display.

The Saratoga headquarters also housed papers, books, manuals, photos and charts found aboard the former Soviet cruise missile submarine Juliett 484 during renovations. The Foundation owns and operates the Russian Submarine Museum at Collier Point Park, Providence.

"Insurance will cover most of the tangible loss," said Lennon. "Computers and office supplies are replaceable. But our collection contains hundreds of one-of-a-kind items. We have become a repository for artifacts that we planned to use to recreate the atmosphere aboard the carrier throughout her decades of service.

"My heart sank when I saw the damage," Lennon added. "To be honest, it's overwhelming. We're doing what we can to salvage what we can."

"It will be a lengthy and expensive process," said Albee. "We know. We've been through this before."

Albee was referring to the water damage the Foundation endured in September, 2000 when lightning struck the the Factory Street mill, opening a hole in the roof and starting a fire. The chain reaction also split the pavement, and a water main burst.

"We also suffered water damage to some historical items that were being prepared for display at the storefront we have in the Rhode Island Mall," remembered Albee. Other archival items not damaged in the lightning strike were then moved to the space at the mall.

Mother Nature then dealt the project a cruel blow. About 72 hours after the lightning incident, mall security called Lennon, telling him to get down there right away because "Your store is flooded."

Complicated by construction work on the mall's roof, heavy rains evidently drained into the building. The museum's merchandise inventory was soaked, as were a number of archival items which had escaped damage three days earlier.

"Hundreds of volunteers have put in more than 100,000 hours over the past five years to bring the Saratoga project to fruition," Lennon said. "With Governor Carcieri's support, we are closer than ever to achieving our goal. Yes, this is a setback. But we have faced far greater adversity in our five year quest, and I am sure we will rebound."

"I'm still reeling from the extent of the damage. But at the same time, I'm confident that we'll get the help we need to get past this."

The Saratoga Foundation is hoping that the community will step up to help save the artifacts that can be restored, and replace equipment that has been lost. Temporary use of a warehouse or workshop for storage and restoration work would also be welcome. Anyone interested in providing assistance should call Lennon at 401-831-8696, or e-mail savesara@aol.com.

Last Updated:
5/22/03