1856
The WELLAND (sidewheel steamer, wood, passenger-package freight, 145 feet, 300 tons, built in 1853 at St. Catharines, Ontario) burned to a total loss at her dock at Port Dalhousie, Ontario. She was owned by Port Dalhousie and Thorold Railroad Co.
1873
Thomas Dunford and Frank Leighton announced a co-partnership in the shipbuilding business in Port Huron, Michigan. Their plans included operating from Dunford’s yard. When they made their announcement, they already had an order for a large tug from Mr. George E. Brockway. This tug was the CRUSADER, measuring 132 feet overall with a 100-foot keel and a 23-foot beam.
1890
The whaleback barge 107 (steel whaleback barge, 276 feet, 1,295 gross tons) was launched by the American Steel Barge Co. at Superior, Wisconsin. She only lasted eight years. In 1898, she broke free from the tug ALVA B. in rough weather and was stranded near Cleveland, Ohio, and wrecked.
1899
A major blockage of the St. Marys River occurred. The steamer MATOA was towing the barge MAIDA past Sailors Encampment when the steering chain of the MAIDA parted. The MAIDA ran ashore, but the current swung her around to completely block the channel, and she sank. The lower St. Marys River was closed for several days, and 80–90 boats were delayed.
1914
The Panama Canal was officially opened to maritime traffic.
1976
JOSEPH L. BLOCK sailed light on her maiden voyage from the Bay Ship Building Co., Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, to load 32,600 long tons of taconite ore pellets at Escanaba, Michigan, for delivery to Indiana Harbor, Indiana.
1978
Under threat of a strike, the uncompleted GEORGE A. STINSON was towed out of Lorain, Ohio, by six tugs to River Rouge’s Nicholson’s Terminal & Dock Co. to finish her fit-out. She was renamed b.) AMERICAN SPIRIT in 2004.
1980
The LEON FALK JR. was laid up for the last time at the Great Lakes Engineering Work’s old slip at River Rouge, Michigan.
J.P. MORGAN JR. arrived in tow of Hannah Marine’s tug DARYL C. HANNAH at Buffalo, New York, where she was delayed until she could obtain clearance to transit the Welland Canal. Permission to pass down the canal was refused because of the MORGAN JR.’s improper condition. By September 5, the situation was rectified, and she was towed down the Welland Canal by the tugs BARBARA ANN, STORMONT, and ARGUE MARTIN bound for Québec City.
1983
The OTTERCLIFFE HALL, the last “straight-deck” Great Lakes bulk freighter built with a pilot house forward, was bareboat chartered to Misener Transportation Ltd. and renamed b.) ROYALTON. She was renamed c.) OTTERCLIFFE HALL, d.) PETER MISENER in 1988, and e.) CANADIAN TRADER in 1994. She was scrapped at Alang, India, in 2004.
1985
The MENIHEK LAKE sailed under her own power to Québec City (from there by tug), the first leg of her journey to the cutter’s torch in Spain.
1991
ALGOSTEEL was outbound at Superior when a small, smoky fire broke out in the electrical panel. The ship went to anchor and then returned to port for repairs. The trip resumed on August 24.
Contributors & Sources
Joe Barr, David Swayze, Russ Plumb, Father Dowling Collection, Jim Olsson, Max Hanley, Skip Gillham, Ahoy & Farewell II, and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series from the Marine Historical Society of Detroit.
Compiled by Roger LeLievre.
