Today, 22 May, marks the 10th “launch” anniversary of The Lusitania Resource! Why do I say it’s a “launch” anniversary? Because at the time, this website was being hosted as a small, personal site on bytenet.net. It did not yet have its own domain name and was not nearly as fleshed out as what you see today. This domain name, rmslusitania.info, was acquired on 7 September 2003, to coincide with the 96th anniversary of Lusitania‘s maiden voyage.
Therefore, I liken today’s date, the “website debut” to the launching of the ship and 7 September as the “maiden voyage” anniversary when this site finally went into service with its own domain name. The intervening months, of course, are then like the outfitting stages when an empty hull gets filled with all the equipment and hotel-like accommodations that make a ship an ocean liner. I will be sure to make another big “to-do” about 7 September as this website’s “other” 10th anniversary.
Anyone remember this old logo?
Of course, these past 10 years would not have been possible without readers and contributors like you. Thank you for sticking through with me even during the long months (OK, years, sometimes), when I was running around focusing on a myriad of other projects and The Lusitania Resource was on the back burner.
Obviously, I can’t say I know everything about the Lusitania – but your combined knowledge is what makes this site the premiere site for the Lusitania‘s passengers and crew on her last voyage. You folks are what make this site happen. Especially since the site was converted from HTML to WordPress I’ve noticed a growing community of people here getting in contact and sharing information, and that’s really cool! Even though I haven’t gotten around to comment on everyone’s feedback, I truly do appreciate all of it and hope that you continue to post messages.
I also want to take the time to especially thank those who helped with the initial push to get the “hull down the slipway” and into the sea that is the Internet: Judith Tavares, Mike Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Peter Kelly, Jeff Newman, Hildo Thiel, Senan Molony, Brian Hawley… I’m afraid I’m leaving someone out! But I really can’t thank you all enough for what you’ve done.
So, what did The Lusitania Resource look like in 2003? Well, thanks to the Wayback Machine (archive.org) you can check it out. Seeing the site as it was then certainly is a throwback to the early 2000s.
Click the screenshot to explore The Lusitania Resource as it was in 2003!
Certainly, a 10-year celebration would not be complete without some updated or new biographies. Of course, in 10 years everyone should already have a biography, but it’s getting there. Today’s updates (Lusitania survivors in Italics):
Updated biographies:
- Richard Freeman (saloon)
New biographies:
- Ailsa Booth-Jones (second cabin)
- Daniel Taylor Brown (second cabin)
- Michael Gibbons (third class)
- Isabella Hamilton (second cabin)
- Evan Jones (third class)
- Patrick O’Donnell (second cabin)
- Frederick Pickard (third class)
Have a great day, and be excellent to each other! Part 5 of SS United States: Made in America will be shown in the next update.
So glad to all those involved in keeping this site on going! Many can lose interest quickly in some things, but this amazing ship and loss of life and survivor experiences is so important to remember and with all the new information being sought and found should never be ended. Thank you for keeping it current and relevant through the years.
Thank you! It has been a pleasure to work on this site for all of these years, and I definitely could not have done it without everyone’s help and support.