LAKE LORE MARINE SOCIETY Incorporated in the State of Michigan October 21, 1963 VoL XXIV, No.6 1akehuronlore@advnet.net November / December, 2003 Terry Doyon (Editor) 272 Elgin St. Sarnia, ON, N7T 5B6 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Membership (annual) - $12.00 (U.S.) $18.00 (Can. funds) Send to: L.H.L. Port Huron Museum, 1115 6th St., Port Huron, MI 48060-5346. Phone (810) 982-0891 DIRECTORS President V. President Secretary Treasurer - Fred Miller - Paul Schmitt - Dick Wicklund - Theresa Miller Ray Bawal Jr. Terry Doyon T. J. Gaffney Gareth McNabb Gene Buel (Hon. Advisory Director) ANNOUNCEMENTS Our third Dinner / Entertainment Meeting of 2003, a joint meeting with our fiiends of the Marine Historical Society of Detroit, was held with 44 guests in attendance at 6 pm, Saturday, October 11th at the Port Huron Museum. The guest speaker of the evening was Ron Beaupre of Port Elgin, ON who presented a slide program entitled Perils of the Lakes. As always, a raffle was held during the evening with prizes being awarded to the following: Fred Miller won a Sea Land Hat, Sterling Berry won a book entitled The History of CSL, Chuck Rousseau won the book - Master of the Inland Seas, Bob Blain won a Columbia S/S Co. patch, David Buscawski won a David Bury print of the Str. Edward L. Ryerson, David Lee won a print of the Str. James Norris, John Meyland was the lucky winner of a digital print of a speed boat and a helicopter, George Lee won a print of the JA. W Iglehart and Dave Bury was the winner of a print of the Joseph H. Frantz. Rev. Peter Van der Linden was given a gift of appreciation; an Interdenominational Order of Worship Service and Hymns from the historic cruise liner Queen Elizabeth II.
Mark Your Calendar - Our fourth and last Dinner / Entertainment Meeting for 2003, also a joint meeting with the M.H.S.D., will be held at the Port Huron Museum on Saturday, December 6th. The doors will be opened at 6:00 pm and the dinner, prepared by the Museum Guild, will be served at 6:30 pm. The cost is $10.00 (U.S. funds) per person and your check, made payable to Lake Huron Lore, along with the enclosed yellow reservation slip, must be received by the closing date of Wednesday, December 3rd. The guest speaker of the evening will be Bob Campbell of Grand Ledge, MI who will present a slide program entitled A Trip on the Kinsman Independent. Bob is a fellow LHL member and has entertained us on numerous occasions in the past with his excellent photography. As usual, we will hold a raffle and award some interesting nautical prizes to many lucky winners. New Members - L.H.L. wishes to welcome aboard Tony Schenk & Debbie Gudich of Roseville, MI, Jack Kelley of Port Huron and Jerry Clary of Port Huron. Marine Flea Market - A Marine Flea Market will be held on Saturday, December 6,2003, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, at the Belle Isle Casino on Belle Isle (Detroit). Admission is $3.00 per person. The Casino is located near the south end of the island. As you come off the bridge to Belle Isle, turn right, then left on Casino Drive and proceed to the Casino. The Flea Market is expected to have 35 Dealers. There will be door prizes. For further information, you can contact John Polasek at (313) 297-8366. New LHL Board Member Required - Following the recent resignation of Karen Gorski from Lake Huron Lore's Board of Directors, an opening for a new Board Member has been created. Any LHL members who are interested in applying for the position can contact LHL President Fred Miller at 5250 Robinwood Dr., North Street, MI 48049 or (810) 982-9832. Lake Huron Lore would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to Karen for her many years of support and valuable contributions to the Society. *** NAME THIS SHIP *** * See Answer on Page 6 * -2 -
'Tis Christmas Everywhere Christmas sounds of the city are hard to find With the lights of the lake shore left far behind. There's no pealing of bells and no warm hearth blaze They're not apt to be found on the unpaved waves! But 'tis Christmas everywhere! We are told that at Christmas good elves abound And that even on longships they can be found. When the long watch is over, good sprites appear That will brighten the ship for the day, it's clear. 'Cause it's Christmas everywhere! And so if you should happen to come along You just might hear the Bosun start humm'n a song. He's caught up in the magic that Yuletide spells And the song he hums softly? It's "Jingle Bells"! It's just gotta be Christmas everywhere! In their solitude out on a winter's run, These sea warriors know there's a job undone. But it's equally clear as the day draws nigh That they also believe Someone's close, close by. Or why Christmas is everywhere! So the vessel's made ready, festoons and all And the smells from the galley help sound the call That says "Christmas is coming with joy complete To be welcomed as well by the whole Lake Fleet." Keeping Christmas everywhere! For our longships will sail on from place to place As their cargoes are moved with majestic grace It seems now that it's Christmas they bring e'en more They bring signs of their Christmas to those on shore. On waves of Christmas everywhere! There's a mystical kinship 'mong men at sea That's akin to the Christmas wish, so you see That those manning our fleet have this wish for all As they sail down the lakes to their next port call, A Merry Christmas Everywhere! * Takenfj-om the Us. Steel News, Dec., 1975, Vol. 40, No.7 * - 3 -
A Year in the Life of the Steamer Carmi A. ThomTJson By Terry Doyon One of the pleasures I obtain from my involvement with Great Lakes shipping is collecting items from the ships. An item I especially enjoy collecting is Master's Log books. I find that by having a ship's log, I actually have a year in the life of that freighter. It offers all the ports that the vessel visited during that season, all the cargos that were loaded and delivered, the weather conditions that she ship and crew were faced with as well as any incidents, accidents, etc. that took place during that season. Several years ago, I was given a Master's Log from a Captain that I had met and become friends with. The Log was from the Steamer Carmi A. Thompson during the 1960 sailing season. The ship was built by American Shipbuilding Co. at Lorain, Ohio as Hull # 722 for Producers Steamship Company of Buffalo. The handsome 550 ft. bulk carrier was named after Mr. Carmi Alderman Thompson, general manager of mining leases for M. A. Hanna Company and general manager for Great Northern ore properties. Two sister ships that were built at that time were the William A. Amberg and Louis W Hill. The Amberg is perhaps better known as Soo River Company's Judith M Pierson and the Hill later became the museum ship Valley Camp at Sault Ste. Marie, MI. During her years under U.S. registry, the Thompson was owned by Producers S/S Co. ( M. A. Hanna & Co., Managers)(1917-29), Butler S/S Co. (Midland S/S Co. Managers)(1929-36), and from 1936 to 1962, the Midland S/S Company of Cleveland, Ohio. The ship's 1960 Log shows the 43-year old freighter still earning her keep in the iron ore & coal trades. The entries begin with the Thompson departing her winter berth in Buffalo at 0835, April 23rd, assisted by the G-Tugs California and Utah. Under the watchful eye of Captain T.B. Bigelow, Jr., she sailed to the western end of Lake Erie arriving at the T.L.F. dock in Toledo at 0840 the following day to load a cargo of coal. She began loading after lunch and, 5 hours later, assisted by the tug Louisiana, departed the Lakefront docks and sailed for the Algoma Steel plant in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. with 10,500 tons of coal. After discharging her cargo at the Canadian Soo, the Thompson sailed for Superior, Wisconsin where she arrived and began loading iron ore at the Great Northern ore docks on April 28th. Loaded with close to 11,000 tons of ore, the steamer departed early on the 29th with the tug Illinois at her bow. Four days later, on May 3rd, the Thompson arrived at the Hanna Furnace dock in Buffalo, N.Y. and began unloading her cargo of ore. * The Carmi A. Thompson in Midland Steamship Company colors at the Peavey Elevator in Duluth * Ken Thro collection On May 17th, two and a half weeks later, while the Thompson was unloading a cargo of coal at Green Bay, Wisconsin, Captain Bigelow noted in the Log, "2nd Engineer, while leaving the bathroom in the fantail" slipped or tripped, falling down the steps and striking his head on the deck. A doctor was summoned and attended him. He was admitted to Bellam General Hospital in Green Bay." On June 5th a second mishap befell the Thompson in the Detroit River. The Captain noted, "While making a landing at Pine Ridge Coal Dock, a small pleasure boat stalled at my bow, and to keep from hitting it, I had to back hard, and in doing so, threw the stem against the concrete dock damaging plates on the port side between No. 29 and No. 30 hatches." Another incident was noted in the Log on November 17th after the Thompson had departed the N. W. Elevator carrying 397,000 bushels of com: "While in tow of the tug Kansas, downbound in the Calumet River at 2115 (and) making a left turn at Federal Furnace, (the) tow lines parted causing (the) ship to strike a scow moored at Federal Furnace causing damage to (the) starboard bow of the Thompson. Damage unknown until surveyed." The ship was quickly docked to inspect the hull. - 4 -
# Toledo Ashtabula Detroit S. Two Escanaba Superior Duluth Sandusky Chicago (TLF) Harbors (Nicholson Loading (TFL) (Missabi (G.N. (C (Penn (N.W. & NW Ports Ore) are) Coal Sault Elevator)Buffalo Auto are) Dk.)Duluth Ste. Conneaut Detroit Superior Lorain Ashtabula Cleveland Gary, Duluth Milwaukee Sault Green Marie, Unloading Ste. Ind. Bay (National ant. Cargos (Nicholson (NW (Hanna (Superior Wheat Corn Marie, (P (C (Republic (Reiss (United are Ore (Algoma Hanna)are Hanna)Coal Ports & (397,000 Care) Furnace) Cars Pare) (382,000 ant. Tube) (J (11,138 (11,458 (11,248 (10,413 (J (11,304 Elevator) (9,786 Auto 0,505 0,604 are 0,659 Coal) Steel) (105) (Algoma bushels) Dk.) tons) Steel) At 0115 the following day they were underway only to suffer further damage from yet another incident. While downbound in the Calumet River, in tow of the tug Alabama and passing through a series of bridges, the ship found her path blocked by a towboat with two barges which were turning around in the River just above the 95th Street Bridge. "While waiting for the river to be cleared, a railroad bridge came down on the Thompson's after doghouse, clearing off everything above the deck including (the) water tank, steering gear, telephone and hand rails. Total damage unknown until ship is surveyed." The ship dropped anchor to inspect her damage, and after ten hours, she was able to get underway once again. Four days later the T7lOmpson arrived in Buffalo and tied up at Superior Elevator (winter berth) at 0415, ending her season early due to the damaged suffered in Chicago. During the 1960 season, the Carmi A. Thompson carried 39 cargos including 24 loads of iron ore, 12 loads of coal, one each of com and wheat and a load of 105 brand new automobiles from Detroit to Duluth. The steamer visited 16 different U.S. ports and 1 Canadian port (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.). In 1962, the Thompson was sold by Midland S/S Company to Comet Enterprises of Hamilton, Bennuda, a subsidiary of the Canadian company Quebec & Ontario Steamship Company, and was renamed b) Thorold (3). During the next nine years, the steamer, in her new role, delivered cargos of pulpwood to the Ontario Paper Company plant in Thorold, Ontario (located along the WeIland Canal). Incidental cargos included grain to St. Lawrence River ports, ore to American ports on Lake Erie and a few loads of salt, coal, coke and rolled newsprint. After unloading a cargo of grain at Prescott, Ontario, the Thorold tied up at Ramey's Bend scrap yard, near Port Colborne, on December 18th, 1971 bringing her 54 year career to an end. The vessel was sold to Marine Salvage Ltd. and the following year, renamed Thoro and dismantled for scrap steel. A Nice Christmas Gift - The Marine Historical Society of Detroit is presently offering a new booklet of 26 color photos taken by numerous photographers during the 1950's & 1960's. In addition, there is a brief history of each on the inside of the back cover. Each photo is approximately 7 W' x 10". You can purchase this booklet by sending a check or money order (in U.S. funds) payable to: The Marine Historical Society of Detroit, to James H. Jackson, 8566 Cadillac Circle, Grosse Ile, MI, 48138. The price of the booklet is $12.95 for MHSD members and $20.00 for non-members. Both prices already include postage. Please allow three to four weeks for delivery. - 5 -
By 1);ell W;ellel4ltd OLIVE L. MOORE My favorite tug photo of 1976 was of the Olive L. Moore at Port Huron, upbound under the Bluewater Bridge on April 17th. Her colors were of the Escanaba Towing; black hull, white cabins with yellow trim and stack. The Moore was built in 1928 under the name John F. Cushing, a name she had until 1966. For only 1966, her name was James E. Skelly, before taking her current name, Olive L. Moore. She was built at 125 feet in length. This length makes her still larger then average on the Lakes. However, in contrast to her appearance in 1976, now the Moore is quite changed, to say the least. She became a tug that has pushed a number of older Lakers that were reduced to notched barges. Imbedded deep in the notches, the Moore looks very different, and is! She is built up around the sides in almost a solid red color, no longer looking like the handsome tug I saw in 1976. The Moore is now a veteran tug by age for her owners. Van Enkevort Tug and Barge also operate the Joyce L. Van Enkevort and Great Lakes Trader, tug / barge unit. We may still see the Olive L. Moore from time to time, but what a change! * Olive L. Moore upbound at Port Huron / Sarnia on April 17, 1976 - Dick Wicklund Photo * Answer to Name This Shiv (Pg.2) C. H. Watson (US 127629) Bulk Carrier built in 1902 by American Shipbuilding Co. at Lorain, Ohio as Hull # 315. 400 ft. length by 50 ft. width by 28 ft. depth. Launched on March 1st, 1902 as a) C. H. Watson for Gilchrist Transportation Company. Sold to National S/S Co. (G. A. Tomlinson, Mgr.) in 1913. Renamed b) Shasta in 1929. Sold to Shasta S/S Co. (Brown & Co., Mgr.) in 1940. Sold to A. Newman & Co. in 1956. Sold again to Steel Co. of Canada for scrapping at Hamilton, Ontario in 1956. Note: This photo of the Watson was taken from a post card in the Editor's collection. The vessel is shown while secured to the new Samia grain elevators owned by the Samia Elevator Co. The Elevator, designed and built by MacDonald Engineering Co. of Canada, Ltd., Toronto, ON., had a 1,000,000 bushel storage capacity with 25,000 bushel-per-hour vessel unloading leg. The back of the post card boasted "Without a Doubt! The fasted rail-shipment Elevator on Lake Huron or the Bay! Montreal delivery... 17 hours, Boston delivery... 30 hours. On the double-track main line of Canadian National (railway). TRY US - YOU'LL LIKE IT. -6-
LUE E E HIP ECKS --~~~~-----------~~~--~~--~--~--~~~--~-~------------------ JAMES CARRUTHERS This year marks the 90th Anniversary of the Great Stonn on November, 1913. An estimated 250 sailors lost their lives in the snow, wind and waves. Many of the ships that sank during those wild hours have been located but the hull of the James Carruthers is still missing. This was the newest vessel to disappear. She had been built as Hull 38 at Collingwood, Ontario and was launched for the St. Lawrence and Chicago Steam Navigation Company on May 22, 1913. The vessel was soon ready for service and departed the shipyard on June 18th. The 550 foot long by 58 foot, 3 inch wide bulk carrier was registered at 7,390 gross tons. 5,635 net tons and could carry about 10,000 tons of cargo. The final trip began loading grain at Fort William and the ship departed for Midland on November 6th, 1913. The stonn was building in the west and, after crossing Lake Superior, she passed through the Soo Locks and St. Mary's River before entering the tumultuous Lake Huron. Most believe that the James Carruthers went down on November 9th and all 25 sailors on board perished. Others speculate that the hull was overwhelmed by the huge waves as it turned to enter Georgian Bay. As a result of the loss, safety modifications were made to the W Grant Morden (b. Donnacona) under construction at Port Arthur. These included thicker hatch covers plus stronger doors and windows. As a replacement, the St. Lawrence and Chicago Steam Navigation Company ordered the J.H.G. Hagarty (b. Hagarty) from Collingwood and this vessel joined their fleet in July, 1914. Both vessels sailed into the late 1960's before being towed to Spain for scrapping. The final resting place for the James Carruthers still waits to be discovered. * James Carruthers leaving Collingwood on June 8th, 1913 - Skip Gillham Collection * Skip Gillham has written many excellent Great Lakes Shipping books which include books of Canadian Ship Yards, Shipping Companies as well as books with chapters focusing on individual ships. These books make excellent gifts and can be purchasedji-om Skip Gillham, PO. Box 443, Vineland, ON, Canada, LOR 2CO. -7-
By D.R. (Doug) Schilz (saltydug@yahoo.com) MIS UTVlKEN Built in 1984 by Astilleros Espanoles S.A. (Factoria de Olaveaga) at Bilbao, Spain; as Hull # 356. Length - 621' 5" Breadth - 75' 1" Depth - 47' 11" GRT - 17,191 M. Bulk Carrier Main Engine - 10,876 bhp B&W I can still recall the first time I saw this particular ship. I was standing under the Bluewater Bridge in Port Huron when I watched the Bijelo Polje sail up under the bridge and out into Lake Huron. She appeared to be fairly new when I saw her. I cannot remember the year but it was the name that struck me. It seemed rather unusual but very intriguing at the same time. As it turns out the Bijelo Polje was a somewhat regular visitor to the Great Lakes. She first arrived in 1987 under this name, owned by Montenegro Shipping Co. and was registered in Yugoslavia.. She made 11 visits under this name, her final visit in the fall of 1990. In 1992 she was renamed C. Blanco but never sailed on the lakes under this name. Her owners at that time were Bar Overseas Shipping Ltd. and her registry was Malta. In 1995 she was again renamed and entered the lakes under the name Utviken. Her new owners were Utviken AlS and her registry the Bahamas. In 1996, while inbound for Ashtabula, Ohio, she grounded near Cornwall, Ontario and had to be lightered with aid trom McKeil tugs and one Seaway tug. There was some damage as a result ofthe grounding. Her career other than that has been uneventful. The Utviken's dark green hull makes her stand out when looking at the many ships that transit this area. She is well maintained and her fleetmates make regular appearances through this area as well. She is on a long tenn charter trom Fednav and due to her handy size and the fact that she appears to be well maintained, I am sure she will be making many more appearances on the Lakes over the next few years. * Utviken upbound at Port Huron / Sarnia on April 5, J 996 - Doug Schilz Photo *