The decommissioned submarine S-49 seen moored to the docks at a "The Texas Company" facility, most likely in Miami, Florida. Capt. F. J. Chrestensen, who purchased the submarine from Boston Iron and Metal Co. in Baltimore, Md. had his residence in Jacksonville, Fla. It would be a logical location to exhibit the submarine. She does not have the "C", seen here, painted on her bow in all the known photos of her so this may be an earlier image then the ones to follow. The Texas Company was to become TEXACO. The first oil company to have locations in all of the US states.

Seen just above the buildings in the center of the photo is a blimp. We can not tell if it is a civilian or Navy airship from this photo.

The S-49 was decommissioned on March 21, 1931. This photo shows her at Washington DC being set up as a tourist attraction on November 1, 1931. She had just arrived from Trenton, NJ, via the Delaware River and the Delaware - Chesapeake Canal, Chesapeake Bay and the Patomac River to arrive at this destination. Her new owner and skipper for this voyage is 'Captain' Francis J. Chrestensen. According to the article the trip was made at 6 knots but it doesn't say if that was under its own power or under tow.

The sign reads; "Submarine Open For Inspection - Admission 25 cents - Children 15 cents". Chrestensen had hired a large crew of people to do tours and help maintain the submarine. a few of those are seen on the deck. A skiff can be seen lashed to the side of the submarine just to the left and below the conning tower.

Another view of the the former USS S-49, identified as being on the causeway to Miami Beach, most likely at The Texas Company docks. Just a hint of a palm tree can be seen at the right edge.

The shore side railings are lined with large pictures some which show a submarine. The photos are probably designed to entice people aboard and tour the submarine. The man on deck may be Capt. F. J. Chrestensen, he does seem to be wearing some sort of an "official" looking uniform. Note loud speakers on top of the conning tower bridge. Note the Blimp just above the flag on the back of the submarine.

The S-49, in private ownership, toured the US East Coast and the St Lawrence River waterway as an exhibition, charging admission for revenue. This photo is dated May 24, 1933 and looking very closed up for business. There seems to be a light haze or fog hanging over the city.

A number of interesting things are seen in the background. The small white building directly behind the submarine is painted in large dark letters, "EKERS India Pale ALE". Ekers was a Montreal brewery.

Keeping in the beers line, over the city skyline and in the center of the photo, is another large sign that reads "Biere BLACK HORSE ALE" that was owned and operated by Dawes, part of National Breweries, and they brewed this favorite in Montreal. The National Breweries was bought out in 1952 by Canadian Breweries. In July 1952, the last Black Horse ale was brewed but due to popular demand it was brought back in 1960. The building directly behind the sign looks to be the Beaver Hall Building built in 1930.

The building at the right seems to be the Banque Royale du Canada or, in English, the Royal Bank of Canada. The tall chimney in front of it has painted HEINZ 57. Whether this is a Heinz plant or just advertising isn't known at this time.

So, a number of interesting things that were going on when this photo was taken. Two days later the submarine had left, bound for Chicago and the Worlds Fair. On May 26, 1933 newspapers have the submarine noted as having run aground at "Hinkley's Bar", near Carleton Island on the Canadian side of the St. Lawrence River. The reports say that tugs were on hand and were trying too pull it free. The submarine was only a few miles from entering into Lake Ontario at this point. We do not know what time of day or night this may have happened or how well the bar was marked as a hazard.

Close up shows the bow of the submarine in more detail showing the Sun Life building in the background. A passerby stands on the quayside at the extreme left in the photo looking the submarine over. Directly behind the bow is a street with a yet to be identified name with a number of parked cars and one lone pickup truck pulling out onto the street. At the far right the Black Horse Ale sign can be read with the Beaver Hall Building behind it. The sign is two sided and some of the reverse lettering can now be seen.

On the submarine itself it is notable that the vessel in in need of paint and maintenance within the superstructure as rust is staining the hull from the limber holes. Just below the patch of holes is the bow plane guards that protect them from damage. We hope that they worked as the guard is quite bent from a collision of some sort.

What appears to be large box on the fore deck is actually the forward entrance into the submarine with sliding hatch and doors. Just behind the hatch box, on the dark building is one of two painted signs proclaiming the John Cowan Chemical company and on the white building is painted the EKERS ALE sign.

A number of interesting things are seen in the background. On the left is a small white building directly behind the submarine is painted in large dark letters, "EKERS India Pale ALE". Ekers was a Montreal brewery.

The top image shows the center of the submarine with the afore mentioned painted signage plus the more clearly read "John Cowan Chemical" painted in white just in front of the conning tower.

In Lovell's Montreal directory for 1891-92 we find what is believed to be him as; "COWAN, JOHN, Manufacturer of Liquid Ammonia, Carbonate of Ammonia, and Agent for The Capeiton Chemical Works and the Canada Chemicai Co., Oil Vitriol, Muriatic and Nitric Acids. 3 Oaihousie st. h 13 Tupper st". No mention of what business the company was doing in 1933, forty years later.

Also in front of the conning tower is a small deck gun of some sort. The original 4"/50 caliber gun was removed by the Navy before the sale as were the periscopes. What and where Chrestensen found this gun isn't known at this time. It does look very out of place and out of scale for what should be there.

Over the city skyline and in the center of the photo, is another large sign that reads "Biere BLACK HORSE ALE" that was owned and operated by Dawes, part of National Breweries, and they brewed this favorite in Montreal. The National Breweries was bought out in 1952 by Canadian Breweries. In July 1952, the last Black Horse ale was brewed but due to popular demand it was brought back in 1960. The building directly behind the sign looks to be the Beaver Hall Building built in 1930.

The last image is from the beer company annual report showing the sign more clearly.

Right behind the sub is a commercial tug. There is a name written in the sign board mounted on the pilot house top but it is unreadable as is the name of the tug company on the emblem painted on the funnel. The large letter "C" and a "u" are all that can be made out.

Behind the tug, painted on the brick wall, is written, "HOME OF..." and the rest is obscured by the tug except that the word "AGENT" seems to be readable just above the tug name board. In front of the pilot house is painted the word "AND". What this is trying to tell is not understandable but still interesting. A peek into the world of 1933 Montreal.

A painted sign on the building at the far right proclaims the "Steamer Empress". Could be some sort of river passenger or tour boat. The Royal Bank of Canada building is at the rear with the HEINZ 57 painted on the chimney in front of it.

This close up shows the aft of the submarine with its piloting facilities build into the superstructure over the after compartment. This is where Chrestensen steered the submarine from. There a similar hatch as the one on the bow and in other photos has the ability to have a weatherproof pilot house installed over it for use while in transit.

The tug seems to be American as the US flag has all appearances of flying from a staff from its boat-deck not someplace on the submarine as would be expected. Two men are on its after deck. While on the submarine deck a small dory style skiff has been pulled up.

This photo was taken on May 30, 1937, the second day of the Great Lakes Exposition in Cleveland, OH.

A Goodyear blimp is flying overhead advertising Goodyear Tires for peoples cars. The photographer had to crouch down to get the angle for the shot. There is actually an anchor in the mount but can't be seen being as the whole area, including the anchor, are painted black. Other photos will show the anchor.

Note that the American flags seen just over the top of the shear line are at half mast. This was Memorial Day. At Noon flags are once again raised to full mast hight. So, the photo was taken before noon that day.

This photo was taken either at Trenton, NJ or the Washington Navy Yard. We have only seen one other photo with the "S-49" painted in this location and that identified it as on the Delaware River in 1939. In 1939 the submarine traveled from Trenton, New Jersey to the Navy Yard via the Delaware River and Delaware-Chesapeake Canal.

She is moored in this photo and men and women are seen on the deck. Several men in "uniforms" are also visible but it is unknown if these are Navy Officers or submarine "crew" which were dressed in a uniform style.

Crowds toured the former USS S-49 by the hundreds and thousands at the 1939 Chicago Worlds Fair. The cost was 25¢ per adult and 15¢ for children. These could have been profitable days for the subs touring business.

Original Navy Flat Hat with the U.S.S. S-49 ships Hat Band in place. These were later replaced by one that just said "US Navy" so as not to give away ships movements and identify crew. The writing, in bullion thread, has lost its gold color and is now quite dark and corroded. This is what some folks would call a "Donald Duck Hat" since it has a bow and forked ribbon "tail" barely seen in the photo's right side. The bow and tail are on the hats left side. Unlike later flat hats issued by the Navy that were unsupported this one has a wire stiffener holding the top of the hat tight thus making the top of the hat "flat".