Today in Great Lakes History ­– August 9

Today in Great Lakes History ­– August 9

1850 CHAUTAUQUE (wooden sidewheel steamer, 124 feet, 162 tons, built in 1839 at Buffalo, New York) caught fire in the St. Clair River and burned to a total loss. In previous years, she had been driven ashore in 1844 and sank twice — once in 1846, and again in 1848. In...
Today in Great Lakes History – August 8

Today in Great Lakes History – August 8

1813 The U.S. Navy schooner HAMILTON (wooden 10-gun schooner, 112 feet, 76 tons, built in 1809 at Oswego, New York, as a.) DIANA), was lying at anchor off the mouth of the Niagara River on Lake Ontario with her armed fleetmate SCOURGE awaiting dawn when they planned...
Today in Great Lakes History – August 7

Today in Great Lakes History – August 7

1789 President George Washington signed the ninth act of the first United States Congress, placing management of the lighthouses under the Department of the Treasury. August 7 is now “National Lighthouse Day” in the U.S. 1844 DANIEL WHITNEY, a wooden...
Today in Great Lakes History – August 6

Today in Great Lakes History – August 6

1870 The wooden propeller tug TORNADO had her boiler explode without warning 4 miles northwest of Oswego, New York. The tug sank quickly into deep water. Three of the six onboard lost their lives. Apparently, the tug had a new boiler, and it had been allowed to run...
Today in Great Lakes History – August 5

Today in Great Lakes History – August 5

1850 The ST. CLAIR (sidewheel steamer, passenger-package freight, 140 feet, 210 tons, built in 1843 at Detroit, Michigan) was reported as lost with no details given whatsoever. The report of her loss was published three days before she was enrolled at Detroit by J....
Today in Great Lakes History – August 4

Today in Great Lakes History – August 4

1880 LYCOMING (wooden propeller, 251 feet, 1,610 gross tons) was launched at West Bay City, Michigan, by F.W. Wheeler (Hull #7) as a two-deck package freighter. She was rebuilt as a single-deck bulk freighter after she burned in 1905. She was one of the few bulk...