LST ship doors ready to open

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July 24, 2007
From Local Reports
Muskegon Chronicle

The long-shut bow doors of Muskegon's World War II tank-landing ship are set to creak open between 2 and 3 p.m. today.

Dan Weikel, president of the LST-393 Preservation Association, said steel plates have been cut away from around the two large doors, a process that took several days.

On Monday, several interior "dogs" that fastened the doors together were removed with cutting torches.

Part of the opening of the doors will involve turning by hand a large gear driving the door-opening mechanism. It once was powered by a large electric motor, which is no longer operable.

Rust, which has developed around each door's seven hinges, could present further difficulty, although Weikel said he thought each door's 16,000 pounds of weight would overcome that.

Once the doors are open, they will become the main entrance to the restored veteran of the D-day Invasion of 1944, which is being restored as a Navy and military museum.