Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission to helm Brig Niagara operations

Jim Martin, Erie Times-News
·4 min read

The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, the owner of the Erie-based U.S. Brig Niagara, is once again taking the helm of the ship's operations, relieving the Flagship Niagara League of those duties.

The current contract, which called for the Flagship League to provide sailing and maintenance services, expires at the end of this year.

The U.S. Brig Niagara enters Presque Isle Bay from Lake Erie to lead the Parade of Sail, kicking off Tall Ships Erie 2022. The ship's owner, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, is taking over sailing and maintenance operations from the Flagship Niagara League.
The U.S. Brig Niagara enters Presque Isle Bay from Lake Erie to lead the Parade of Sail, kicking off Tall Ships Erie 2022. The ship's owner, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, is taking over sailing and maintenance operations from the Flagship Niagara League.

According to a statement from PHMC, the organization "will resume direct management of the U.S. Brig Niagara, hiring the ship’s professional crew, a staffing model successfully employed from 1992 to 2009."

Howard Pollman, a spokesman for PHMC, said applications will be accepted for a new full-time ship's captain, chief mate, shipwright and seasonal crew members.

That doesn't preclude current staff employed by the Flagship Niagara League from continuing to serve.

Crew members pull lines on the U.S. Brig Niagara, on Aug. 25, 2022, during the Parade of Sail on Presque Isle Bay. The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, which is taking over control of operations, plans to continue participating in Tall Ships events.
Crew members pull lines on the U.S. Brig Niagara, on Aug. 25, 2022, during the Parade of Sail on Presque Isle Bay. The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, which is taking over control of operations, plans to continue participating in Tall Ships events.

"The crew of the FNL will be able to apply and I believe they should do so," said Michael Martin, chairman of the FNL board.

The relationship will continue

Andrea Lowery, executive director of PHMC, said in a statement that the sailing of the Niagara is only one aspect of its partnership with the Flagship Niagara League.

"Although PHMC will resume direct management and operation of the Niagara, we wish to continue collaborating with the Flagship Niagara League in the realization of our vision for the Erie Maritime Museum Complex.  We appreciate the value the League has brought to the Museum and the Niagara and are excited about future possibilities to achieve even more together,” she said.

Martin said the FNL is talking with PHMC about how the organizations can continue working together.

At the same time, however, he downplayed the significance of the move and was critical of reports and public postings over the the weekend that he said were "made without the facts."

What's next?

Martin said the changes in the relationship with PHMC have the support of the board of directors. At the same time, he said, there are some questions about what's next.

More: New strategy means more time in Erie for U.S. Brig Niagara, more collaboration with museum

"We have to determine where that takes us," he said. "Life changes. The only thing that is real in the world is that change is going to happen."

Both Martin and Pollman said many of those changes will be positive.

Investing in history

According to Pollman, "As part of its increased investment, PHMC will allocate an additional $400,000 annually to support U.S. Brig Niagara operations, in addition to the existing $350,000 earmarked for maintenance and operations."

More: US Brig Niagara will remain docked until mechanical issues are resolved

That's in addition to a plan to launch a multi-million-dollar capital project in 2024 to address deferred maintenance and make system upgrades to the Niagara.

PHMC is also pledging to makes what it calls a substantial investment in the Erie Maritime Museum.

According to a statement from PHMC, "Both the museum and the ship will receive significant upgrades, with the development of new exhibits at the museum and repairs and improvements to the ship over the next few years."

Questioning the commitment

A petition posted Saturday on the website Change.org expressed doubts about PHMC's intentions.

That petition, which had been signed 375 times as of noon Monday, begins as follows: "After three years of bullying and a series of behaviors that suggest malicious intent, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) dissolved its relationship with a group who has successfully maintained the US Brig Niagara since 1981. The PHMC has no experience in maritime affairs and they appear to have no clear plans for how they will maintain the vessel moving forward."

The plan, said Pollman, is to continue to sail the Niagara once scheduled repairs have been made and to continue to participate in future Tall Ships events.

"We are committed to sailing the Niagara in Lake Erie and on the Great Lakes," Pollman said.

Pollman said there has been an ongoing suggestion that the Niagara will no longer sail.

"That has never been true," he said.

Martin said he feels good about the future of the ship that was built during the War of 1812.

"They (PHMC) are committed to sailing the ship," Martin said. "They are committed to investing in this community. I am bullish on where we can go."

State Rep Pat Harkins, of Erie, D-1st Dist., said he has been in touch with the office of Gov. Josh Shapiro as the Flagship Niagara League looks to define its role.

"I think it's going to need a revamp," Harkins said. "We are trying to put things back in place or to reimagine the way things might look in the future."

Contact Jim Martin at jmartin@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: PHMC and Flagship Niagara League plan for continued collaboration