And then there were three -- historic vessels at the Truman Waterfront.
The highly decorated Coast Guard ship Ingham arrived on Tuesday, joining the World War II-era USS Mohawk as well as Key West's flagship Schooner Western Union.
The schooner currently is "on the hard," meaning it is out of the water, said Bill Barry, a member of the nonprofit group working to restore the historic sailing vessel and get it back into service for charters and day sails.
"We are beyond 50 percent finished with the work that has to be done out of the water," he said.
Skilled shipwrights that Barry likened to artisans have replaced many of the ship's ribs, and much of the deck and hull planking, using longleaf yellow pine, which was used in the ship's original construction.
"It's nonporous wood and very dense, but it's not grown anymore," Barry said.
The wood now is salvaged from demolition projects and recycled for other nautical and flooring projects, according to online sources.
Barry said the society hopes to have the ship back in the water before the end of the winter, when it can resume charter operations and begin generating income.
"The Coast Guard is inspecting all our work," he said.
Launched in 1939, the Schooner Western Union was the last tall ship built in Key West, and thus became the island's flagship. For more than 30 years, the 130-foot vessel maintained underwater telegraph lines for Western Union. After that, she was used for charters and to teach sailing and seamanship.
Age was killing the ship until a community group, initially led by Coffee Plantation coffee shop owner Theo Glorie, began to rally support for the majestic two-masted schooner.
The ship's supporters eventually formed the Schooner Western Union Preservation Society to raise money and awareness.
The total restoration project will cost about $800,000, Barry said.
The Monroe County Tourist Development Council has contributed $405,000 to the restoration, and the Historic Florida Keys Foundation has donated $300,000. The remaining funds are coming from private donors.
Visitors are welcome to drop by the schooner work site at Truman Waterfront, where the Ingham and Mohawk sway at their moorings.
