Where is the Son of Town Hall Now?
(To start from Feb. 1, 1999, click here, then scroll upward through the entries)
Click on the small photo at left to see
the Son of Town Hall in Frontignan, France
HELP! Call for Help RENEWED February 2008!
We have been contacted again by the French authorities, and they have said that the destruction of the vessel is imminent!
Call for anyone who can help get the Son of Town Hall to Holland where it could be in a museum, or to put it to any beneficial use (please see suggestions below) ANY BENEFICIAL IDEAS WILL BE CONSIDERED!
If you have any ideas, or if you would like to propose a plan of any positive use, or are able to help to re-locate this historic vessel, please contact Jan Theunissen jtheunissen@hotmail.com or call (in the Netherlands): (0031) 0345.533933 (Jan Theunissen)
January 2005 - Call for Help! artists or anyone with use ideas
We would like to offer the Son of Town Hall as studio space for an artist
or a group of artists, an art gallery, a floating art piece.... We are seeking
an individual or group of artists who would like to make use of this historic
craft, which has permanent flotation, and could be moved a short distance within
the canal system safely.
Sadly, the requisite funds, people, and energy
have not come together to move the Son of Town Hall to a resting place
in the museum in Holland. Attempts to find a museum for her in France also were
unsuccessful. At the moment, it seems as though she may be taken
by the French authorities and destroyed if we cannot quickly find someone who
wants to use her.
Another option would be to make use of her deck
as a float-base for a sailing school or a camp. Many other possibilities exist.
If you have any ideas, or if you are an artist and would like to propose a plan
for re-locating the raft and using her as an art studio, please contact Jan Theunissen
jtheunissen@hotmail.com
or call (in the Netherlands): (0031) 0345.533933 (Jan Theunissen)
August 29, 2001
News from Jan Theunissen re: the Son of Town Hall. This summer we did move the Son of Town Hall, but only 4 miles. Now the raft is in Frontignan, France. I will continue to try to bring the Son of Town Hall to the Netherlands. As a matter of preparation I think a general check-up is needed. But minimal things have to be done. First the wooden rudder needs to be renewed, the hull should be cleaned from mussels. Then I want the raft to be more liveable by removing a lot of stuff that is not needed. Are you interested to sign-up as a possible crewmember for next year? One week or longer. France is beautifull. For more information or questions send an e-mail to jtheunissen@hotmail.com.
Special Announcement, June 2001:
The Son of Town Hall is still in Setes, France. This summer, starting August 5th we want to move the Son of Town Hall to the Netherlands. Interested? We need some crewmembers! (1,2,3 or 4 weeks) who have experience or desire to travel the French canals and rivers. We will probably also be needing crew in September. More info: Write to: jtheunissen@hotmail.comor call (in the Netherlands): (0031) 0345.533933 (Jan Theunissen) June 15, 2000
Son of Town Hall remains at Balaruc les Bains, France, awaiting the next leg of her voyage. Poppa Neutrino, Capt. Betsy, and Ed are all on the Mississippi working on the orphanage raft project, Vilma B, which is proceding very well. (see the Vilma B page for details.) Leslie and Alan have opted not to start their raft at this time. The circumnavigation of Son of Town Hall has not been canceled, but rather put on hold temporarily. The animals have been shipped to the U.S. and are now onboard the Vilma B.
Sept. 1, 1999 and the winter monthsThe Son of Town Hall has been moved to Balaruc les Bains, near Sete, where it will remain for the winter months. There is excellent space for Leslie and Alan to work on their raft project here, as they keep watch on Son of Town Hall and the two dogs and cat. We continue to work at gathering materials, volunteers and funds for the orphanage project.
August 13, 1999
Today is the first anniversary of the Neutrinos' landing in Ireland on the Son of Town Hall. We look back on the historic Atlantic crossing by scrap raft, and at the same time look forward to the new projects underway - Leslie and Alan's raft; Ed and June heading for the Northwest U.S. to build a log raft; and the Orphanage Raft. As we begin to gather materials and contacts for the Orphanage Raft project here in Sete, France, we are meeting many new people, and are very grateful for all the assistance we have received up to now, and optimistic about our new projects.
July 16, 1999
The town government of Sete have voted unanimously to allocate a space
for us to build our orphanage raft, and we are now actively searching for an old hull
and/or scrap materials to get started.
July 6, 1999
The raft spent 3 weeks in Saintes Maries de la Mer, a beautiful beach resort on the French Mediterranean coast, also the gypsy capital of Europe. The dogs enjoyed the long runs they got every day, and we all rested and relaxed. Patrick Tesniere, the local Yamaha Marine Specialist, generously donated his expertise and assistance with our outboard motor problems. This was something we needed very much, so that we have backup motor power in case our small diesel fails, and we are very grateful for Patrick's generosity. We are now in Sete, doing more work on the raft at a local boatyard, "Evasion Marine".
June 1, 1999
Due to political events in the eastern Mediterranean, the Neutrinos will soon
be headed for the Spanish coast. They are presently in the process of redesigning the sail
rig of the raft.
Feb 10, 1999
Son of Town Hall is in Marseille, France, waiting for the mistral winds (60-75
mph) to die down, before setting off into the Mediterranean, headed east.
Feb 1, 1999
Continuing the first ever circumnavigation of the globe by raft, Son of Town
Hall is presently in LYON, FRANCE, having travelled up the Seine River to Paris and then
through the canals to the Rhone River.
They will soon be in the Mediterranean, headed east.