- SS Home
The SS "Home" was a steam
packet ship built in1836 and sunk in1837 and commanded by Captain Carleton White.The "Home" was built for Mr. James B. Allaire, of
New York City , a ship of 537 tons (487,158 kg), 220 feet (67 m) long and with a beam of 22 feet (7 m), propelled by two paddle-wheels mounted amidship. Like other ships of its day, the Home had masts, sails, and rigging as well.On Saturday,
October 7 ,1837 the Home set out from New York City bound for Charleston,South Carolina with about 90 passengers and 40 crew on board. The "Home" had only made two voyages to Charleston prior to this voyage. The "Home" struck a sandbar off theNew Jersey coast. Unaware of the extent of the damage, her captain proceeded on schedule to Charleston when it encountered the1837 Racer's Storm and started taking on water as she roundedCape Hatteras . She was put aground to ride out the developing storm. Before rescue operations could be effected the next day, the "Home" was torn to pieces by the surf and 90 lives were lost.The "Home" had been originally constructed for river trade, but converted into a passenger liner. The ship’s interior was paneled in deep
mahogany and cherry wood with skylights, saloons, and luxurious passenger quarters.A total of $115,000 had been spent converting the "Home" for ocean voyages but it was equipped with only three lifeboats and two life preservers. The "Home" was insured for only $35,000.
Notable passengers
*The Hardy Croom family of Tallahassee,
Florida . Hardy Croom established one of Tallahassee's premiercotton plantation s calledGoodwood Plantation .
*Oliver H. Prince and wife Mary Prince. Oliver was on the Board of Trustees of theUniversity of Georgia and had been aUnited States Senator from Georgia as well as Georgia State Senator.References
*Handbook of Texas|id=HH/ybh1|name=Hurricanes
* [http://www.allairevillage.org/Bios/bios.htm biography of the SS Home's owner, James Peter Allaire]
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/uncpress/hurricanes/nc_whats.html North Carolina Hurricane History]
*Flagpole Magazine, p. 10 (September 6 ,2000 ).
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