by Valdine Atwood

Upon hearing the news of a fire at San Francisco’s Pier 45, many area residents were filled with fear for the safety of the WWII Liberty ship SS Jeremiah O’Brien but were relieved to learn that more than 150 San Francisco firefighters had saved the historic vessel. But why would Machias residents, living across the country from that California city, be so interested in what had happened to a vessel so far away?