Erie, Pa. has long been known for its diverse industry. In recent years, the city's blue collar image has softened somewhat, as a burgeoning tourism industry, prosperous hospitals and colleges such as Penn State Behrend, Mercyhurst College, Gannon University, Edinboro Unversity and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine keep growing.
While the loss of some major manufacturing plants dealt the region a serious economic blow, manufacturing is far from being washed up nothwest Pennsylvania.
Of particular interest in today's Erie Times-News is the package on the front page of the You Inc. section, the newspaper's daily guide to the business of life. The story by reporter Sarah Weber and photos by Lauren Anderson describe the christening of the first new ships to be built here in 34 years.
Dating back to Oliver Hazard Perry's fleet, which was built here and then transported to Lake Erie's waters near Sandusky, Ohio, where the ships held fast during the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813, ship building has always been an important industry in Erie. Now it is once again.
As Weber writes, "A ceremony to christen the vessels -- the Witte 4003, a 244-foot-long steel barge, and Sue B, a 165-foot-long steel deck barge -- was held Wednesday at the Erie Shipbuilding LLC shipyard at 220 E. Bayfront Parkway."
For those who haven't visited Erie's bayfront in a while, the shipyard is situated next to an impressive Intermodal Transportation Hub, which is across from the Blasco Memorial Library. The modern bayfront features a combination of public buildings, parks, a convention center, and industry.
Erie's bayfront, once the most vibrant section of the city, has again become the most interesting area in town. Best of all, it appears the future of shipbuilding here is quite promising, as the company has contracts to build five more ships. Dirk VanEnkevort, president of Erie Shipbuilding, said the company currently employs 130 workers, but expects the number to increase to 200 in the coming months.
The newspaper story explains what an important industry shipbuilding has become on the Great Lakes again, as owners look to replace the aging fleet on Lake Erie.
It's not just the jobs this industry provides, the huge ships turned out in Erie's yards are a symbol for the city -- past our our past and present. As always, the Times-News will be there to tell the story.
-- Kevin Cuneo