Today in Great Lakes History – February 2

February 2, 2026

1882
1882:   F. B. STOCKBRIDGE [Built-1873 US-120117 by John B Martel at Saugatuck, Michigan. Renamed: HATTIE HUT-1882 US-120117 and HATTIE HUTT-1908 C-112190] Name changed to HATTIE HUTT at Chicago, IL, February 2, 1882

1903
1903:   CHARLES HEBARD [Built-1888 US-126491 by John Oades at Detroit, Michigan] Stranded during gale 3 miles west of Mamainse Point, Ont., Lake Superior, with schooners ALOHA, WARMINGTON, and FRANCOMB in tow; no lives lost. Crew taken to the Soo by tug GENERAL; schooners recovered. Was bound down from West Superior, WI, with lumber when lost. Stranding occurred on Nov. 30, 1902. Wreck sold to R.P. Thompson on February 2, 1903.

1913
1913:
  The wooden passenger and freight carrier MANITOU sustained fire damage at Owen Sound and sank at the dock. The vessel was refloated, repaired and operated to the end of the 1939 season.

1939
1939:  February 2, 1939 – CHIEF WAWATAM went to the shipyard to have a new forward shaft and propeller placed.

1942
1942:  SAMUEL MATHER, a.) PILOT KNOB (Hull #522) had her keel laid February 2, 1942, at Ashtabula, Ohio, by Great Lakes Engineering Works.

1944
1944:   LAKE WASBURN [Built-1918 US-216437 by Globe Shipbuilding Co. of Superior, Wisconsin. Renamed: C.H. LAWRENCE JR.-1925 US-216437 was8, TOYO MARU NO.6-1928 Reg-Japan and TOYO MARU NO.8-1941 Reg-Japan]  As TOYO MARU NO.8 Was torpedoed and sunk by submarine USS PLUNGER in position 33.20N x 135.59E, ten miles south of Shingu, Japan, on February 2, 1944.

1944
1944:   TENTO [Built-1918 C-142642 by Polson Iron Works at Toronto, Ontario. Renamed: TENTO-1922-Norway and TOYO MARU NO.5-1927-Japan] As TOYO MARU NO.5 was torpedoed and sunk by submarine USS PLUNGER in position 33.29N x 135.59E, ten miles south of Shingu, Japan, off Kii Channel, on February 2, 1944

1972
1972:  IRISH SPRUCE first appeared in the Seaway in 1960. The ship was enroute from Callao, Peru, to New Orleans with zinc and copper concentrates as well as coffee, when it ran aground on Quinta Suero Bank (14,25 N / 81.00 W) off the coast of Nicaragua. The ship had its back broken and became a total loss.

1972:   WHEAT KING [Built-1953 UK-185358 as LLANDAFF by Lithgrows LTD. At Glasgow, Scotland. Renamed: WHEAT KING-1960 C-185358, BULK CAT-1987-Netherlands and BRUGSE-1988-Netherlands] While undergoing extensive winter work in the dry dock, Port Weller Dry Docks, Ltd., St. Catharines, Ont., suffered extensive smoke damage to crews quarters from fire caused by burning oily waste material in stern and bilges, February 2, 1972.

1981
1981:
  EDOUARD SIMARD and JAMES TRANSPORT collided in the St. Lawrence River east of Port Neuf, Quebec. Both received bow damage.

1981
1981:  ARTHUR SIMARD received extensive bottom damage after going aground in the St. Lawrence. It was enroute from Montreal to Sept-Iles, but returned to Trois Rivieres to unload and then to Montreal for repairs.

1983
1983:   JOHN G MUNSON [Built-1952 US-264136 By Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co at Manitowoc, Wisconsin] Suffered a fire in her forward end February 2, 1983. Three were hospitalized for smoke inhalation from the fire started by accident in the ships machine shop. Extent of damages is not known.

1997
1997:  Name Change: ULS Corporation Becomes Upper Lakes Group Inc.Ottawa, January 23, 1997 – ULS Corporation has become Upper Lakes Group Inc., effective January 1, 1997, and all correspondence should be addressed accordingly, the company advises.

Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the Great Lakes Ships We Remember series.