1911: FRANK R. DENTON was launched March 25, 1911, as a.) THOMAS WALTERS (Hull#390) at Lorain, Ohio by American Ship Building Co. for the Interstate Steamship Co., Cleveland, Ohio.
1916: HENRY G. DALTON (Hull#713) was launched March 25, 1916, at Lorain, Ohio by American Ship Building Co., for the Interlake Steamship Co., Cleveland, Ohio – the company’s first 600 footer.
1927: On March 25, 1927, heavy ice caused the MAITLAND NO 1, to run off course and she grounded on Tecumseh Shoal on her way to Port Maitland, Ontario. Eighteen hull plates were damaged which required repairs at Ashtabula, Ohio.
1933: March 25, 1933 – Captain Wallace Henry “Andy” Van Dyke, master of the Steamer PERE MARQUETTE 22, suffered a heart attack and died peacefully in his cabin while en route to Ludington, Michigan.
1966: The French freighter ROCROI made one trip through the Seaway in 1959. The ship arrived at Halifax on this date in 1966 with interior damage after the ‘tween decks, loaded with steel, collapsed crushing tractors and cars beneath. The vessel was repaired and survived until 1984 when, as e) THEOUPOLIS, it hit a mine en route to Berbera, Somalia, on August 14, 1984. The vessel was badly damaged and subsequently broken up in India.
1973: The former MONTREAL CITY caught fire as b) RATCHABURI at Bangkok, Thailand, on March 24, 1973. It was loading a cargo of jute and rubber for Japan on its first voyage for new Thai owners. The vessel was scuttled and sank on March 25 in Pattani Bay, South Thailand. The ship began coming through the Seaway for the Bristol City Line when new in 1963.
1975: The steamer ENDERS M. VOORHEES participated in U.S. Steel’s winter-long navigation feasibility study during the 1974-75 season, allowing only one month to lay up from March 25th to April 24th.
2018: The Soo Locks opened for the 2018 season early March 25 with the upbound passage of AMERICAN CENTURY. She was followed by PHILIP R. CLARKE AND EDGAR B. SPEER. The first passage was greeted by around 300 freighter fans gathered in Soo Locks Park and on the locks observation deck, opened specially for the event by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
2020: After a 10-week shut down for winter maintenance, the Soo Locks opened for the 2020 season early on the morning of March 25. H. LEE WHITE had the honor of starting the shipping season. BURNS HARBOR was the first downbound passage.
2022: On March 25, 2022, The Soo Locks opened for the new shipping season with the upbound passage of Great Lakes Fleet’s 1,004-foot long EDGAR B. SPEER. Fleetmate EDWIN H. GOTT followed her up.
Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Father Dowling Collection, “Ahoy & Farewell II” and the “Great Lakes Ships We Remember” series.