Simon J. Murphy

Who am I?

Thanks to The Rock for identifying the ship as the Simon J. Murphy. The ship was launched in 1900 in Wyandotte, Michigan. After 60 years of service, the Simon J. Murphy was scrapped.

Imperial Sarnia

Who am I?

Thanks to The Rock for identifying the ship as the Imperial Sarnia. The ship was launched in 1948 as a tanker for Imperial Oil, Ltd. The ship was modified during the winter of 1953 and left the Great Lakes for East Coast service before returning in 1962. The Imperial Sarnia was converted to an oil storage barge in 1986. Auke Visser of the Netherlands has compiled a superb site dedicated to tankers of this type. Please click here to see additional photos and information about the Imperial Sarnia.

Put-In-Bay

Who am I?

Thanks to The Rock for identifying the ship as the Put-In-Bay. The ship was launched in 1911. At that time, the ship was the largest excursion steamer built for Detroit River service. The ship was sold for scrap in 1953 but before going to the scrap yard, it was towed out to Lake St. Clair and set ablaze! Many remember the fiery end of the Put-In-Bay but The Rock actually witnessed this historic maritime event!! Click here to read The Rock’s comments. Click here if you wish to read more about the glorious beginning and unusual end of the Put-In-Bay.

Seneca

Who am I?

Thanks to Lars Hagen Jr. of of Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia for identifying the ship as the Seneca. The tug was built in 1940 at Beaumont, Texas for James McWilliams Blue Line, Inc. The tug served the Great Lakes for over 35 years before being removed from documentation in the 1980’s. If you would like to learn more about the Seneca, please click here.

City Of Cheboygan

Who am I?

Thanks to The Rock for identifying the ship as the City Of Cheboygan. The ship was originally launched as the Ann Arbor No. 4 in 1909. In 1937, the ship was purchased by the State of Michigan and converted to a car ferry used to transport people and automobiles across the Straits of Mackinac. The opening of the Mackinac Bridge in 1957 was the death knell for the City Of Cheboygan along with all other car ferries. The ship was sold in 1958 and used as a storage hulk for potatoes until it was scrapped in 1973. If you would like to see additional photos of the City Of Cheboygan as well as an article by car ferry historian Les Bagley, please click here.

Did Columbus Sail The Great Lakes?

No, but a replica of the Santa Maria, the flagship of Columbus' 1492 voyage, sailed the St. Clair River for many years. Andrew Cuthbertson and his son Tom of Cuthbertson Marina in Algonac, Michigan built the ship, which was aptly named the Santa Maria II. The Cuthbertsons completed the Santa Maria II in 1936 and sailed it until the late 1940's when it was sold and sailed to St. Augustine, Florida for use as a theme restaurant. A tropical storm sank the Santa Maria II in the mid-1950's and the ship is believed to have been dismantled some time after that.

In the early 1940’s my Grandfather was on Harsen’s Island when he filmed the Santa Maria II. Click below to view this brief but rare footage!

Happy Columbus Day!

Mystery Ship

Who am I?

Thanks to The Rock for his insight on the possible identities of several Mystery Ships depicted in the photo. Click here to read The Rock's comments and learn what one of the vessels may be!

Imperial Midland

Who am I?

Imperial Oil Limited of Canada had many tankers of this type sail the Great Lakes during the 1940’s and 1950’s. Initially, The Rock offered the names of Imperial Welland or Imperial Cobourg as the likely identity of this Mystery Ship. Other possible names were the Imperial Midland, Imperial Hamilton, Imperial Sarnia or Imperial Goderich. Recently, Ted Wilush identified the ship as the Imperial Midland. The ship was built for Imperial Oil, Ltd. and launched as the Taralite in 1917. The ship was renamed the Imperial Midland in 1947. The ship was acquired by Reoch Transportation, Ltd. in 1953. At that time the ship's name was changed to the Willowdale and she was converted from a tanker to a bulk carrier. She sailed on the Great Lakes for another 10 years before being scrapped in 1963. Auke Visser of the Netherlands has compiled a superb site dedicated to tankers of this type. Please click here to see additional photos and information about the Imperial Midland.