The JOHN W. BROWN

David Platt

The John W. Brown, built in Baltimore, named for a labor leader in Bath and now berthed in Baltimore, paid a visit to the Maine State Pier recently, where she was open to visitors. The Brown is one of two original "Liberty Ships" still afloat, the other being the Maine-built Jeremiah O'Brien now based on the West Coast. During World War II shipyards -- including one in South Portland -- turned out more than 1,000 of these ships in record time in support of the United States' war effort. During the Portland visit, the Brown also took passengers on a short cruise around Casco Bay.