PORT HURON, Mich. (AP) — A U.S. Coast Guard ship thatparticipated in early tests of the atomic
bomb has been sold to aprivate owner by the Port Huron Museum, despite the fervent oppositionof a man who
got the vessel on the National Register of Historic Places.Themuseum said it sold the 180-foot Bramble to a
Marine City man forslightly less than $200,000. It cost $80,000 a year to staff andmaintain the ship, more
than the money collected from visitors.It is a tough outcome for Jon Ottman, 41, of Warren, who tried to
rally the public in defense of the Bramble. The Detroit News (http://bit.ly/12iqzmH ) says he wrote a blog, reached
out to Coast Guard members and retireesand single-handedly worked for the historic designation, even
turningin the 73-page application.Ottman accused the museum of wantingto sell Bramble "as a toy to a
private buyer." He was worried that theship would be ruined if owned and modified by private hands. But
the newowner, Bob Klingler, said he has no such plans and hopes to make itavailable for tours and
sleepovers."We’re going to be tremendousstewards of this historic ship," he told the newspaper.
"We’re going torun it like it deserves to be run."The 69-year-old vessel was oneof the first U.S.
ships to circle North America and also participatedin early tests of the atomic bomb in the Marshall
Islands, according tothe Coast Guard. Its main job was to collect buoys."It’s been largely
overlooked," Ottman said. "It’s a mystery to most people."FormerMarine John Nowakowski, who
had hoped to buy the ship for a museum hewants to build, said Ottman’s dedication is to be
commended."God love him," said Nowakowski, 48, of Swanson, Ohio. "I wouldn’t give up that
passion and love."___Information from: The Detroit News, http://detnews.com/Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.