E.Harvey Holzworth, Jr., died February 8, 2010. A lifelong Buffalonian with wide-ranging interests in business and historical preservation, he was best known among Western New Yorkers for his plans to preserve portions of the S.S. Canadiana. As president of the S.S. Canadiana Preservation Society, he worked to save the engine after the boat was scrapped in 2005. Images in the slideshow below document the journey on April 11, 2006, of the 60-ton triple expansion steam engine from Port Colborne, Ontario to BIDCO, formerly known as Buffalo Dry Dock where the boat had been built in 1910. It was a jubilant day for Harvey. |
Click the arrow at left to begin the slideshow. It can viewed full-screen by clicking on the directional arrows bottom right.
Historian John H. Conlin, on Harvey's legacy: Harvey Holzworth, the last sailing master of the S.S. Canadiana, refused to let it die because it represented the history of the Buffalo waterfront. That history was Harvey's passion. With every set-back Harvey came up with a new plan, always focusing on the real potential for something big, always energetically mustering the available resources, always the captain of his enterprise. Harvey had a resilient sense of humor. One time when a photo of him ran large on a front page of The Buffalo News, Harvey said, "Look at that face, a monster to scare the kids." to which I responded: "No Harvey. Not when the kids see the twinkle in your eye, there they will recognize a kindred spirit." The most amazing thing about this amazing guy was his perennial optimism. His voice machine broadcast a constant message of his determination to overcome obstacles. Harvey the historian was always enthusiastically focused on the future -- the next big thing. A few years ago I was walking with the late Paul Koessler, after we had lunch with Harvey at the Yacht Club. Paul referred to Harvey as "one of our true stalwarts." "We are lucky to have him," I agreed. In a real way we are still lucky to have him. Harvey Holzwoth's greatest legacy is the personal example he set for us. We can all take a lesson from that example. |
Copies of the Summer 2006 issue of WNY Heritage Magazine containing the article on the Canadiana and the centerfold 1946 photo are still available for purchase. Purchase details here. |