Earlier this month I had the opportunity and HONOR to visit with Shipmate John Crouse at the outstanding Submarine Museum at the foot of Osborne Street in tree lined St Marys, Georgia. 

He has done the absolutely best possible job in integrating most all of Ben Basturas's Collection from Middletown, Connecticut.

He has faithfully restored Ben's original display cases and has even placed the artifacts in the same position as they were in Middletown --- with Ben's original index card labels. This is a labor of love folks. 

John has blended 100% of all Ben's "boat Books" with his own collection. I must tell you that the St Marys Museum has the most extensive "boat files" in the United States of America... Bar NONE!

The only remaining task is to uncrate and find room for Ben's models. One of them is about five feet long and was made from a railroad tie.

An observation: From all the pictures I've seen of the Museum, it appears VERY small from the front. Most old movie houses did look small from the front, but they were deep with a high wall at the back to accommodate the screen and curtain. They added a complete second floor above the original seating floor. 

Now the kicker; the museum is ONLY about seven miles off Georgia I-95, Exit 3. Its a straight shot down into the town of St Marys. Go as far as you can, turn right and you're there. The town itself is straight out of Harper Lee's imagination complete with banyan trees over the streets, spanish moss and old quaint homes with gingerbread railings. 

My most humble thanks to Bill Weisensee and John Crouse for faithfully maintaining my friend Ben's life work.

V/R,

John Wynn