Happy New Year!

Have a great 2008!

The photo above depicts the South American on the Detroit River going past Ford Motor Company Of Canada. The passenger steamer was built in 1914 by the Great Lakes Engineering Works of Ecorse, Michigan. She spent her career providing regular service to Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Mackinac Island, Chicago and Duluth. She retired in 1967 and was to be used as a dormitory and class room for the Union's Lundeburg School of Seamanship but did not pass inspection. The South American was scrapped in 1992. If you would like to learn more about the South American as well as see additional pictures and listen to her whistle blow, please click here.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!

The ship in the above photo is the Western States. The passenger steamer was built in 1902 by the Detroit Ship Building Company of Wyandotte, Michigan. She spent most of her career making the run between Detroit and Cleveland. In 1955, automobiles had all but replaced steamers and the ship was converted to a floating hotel. The “flotel” proved unprofitable and the ship was scrapped in 1959. If you would like to learn more about the Western States as well as see additional pictures, please click here.

Mitschfibre

Thanks to Tonylast for identifying the vessel as the Mitschfibre. The barge was built in 1895 by the Chicago Ship Building Company and christened the Marcia. The vessel was sold to the Detroit Sulphite Transportation Company and renamed the Mitschfibre. The barge was sold again in 1939 to Driftwood Lands & Timber and then sold once more in 1954, this time to the Hindman Transportation Company. The Mitschfibre served her final years as a grain storage hulk in Owen Sound, Ontario before being scrapped in 1966.

I recently received a nice letter from Mark Cain of St. Paul, Minnesota who informed me that his wife's grandfather, Martin P. Gusland, was the captain of the Mitschfibre in the early 1930's.

Hornum

Who am I?

Thanks to Tonylast for identifying the ship as the Hornum. The ship was built as the Luksefjell in 1930 for Olsen & Ugelstad and launched in Porsgrunn, Norway. In 1937 she was purchased by Zerssen, a German shipping concern and renamed the Holnis. The vessel was renamed in 1941 to the Hornum. The Hornum was scrapped in 1962. If you would like to see an old German postcard that featured Hornum, please click here.

Helene

Who am I?

Research indicates that this is most likely the Helene. The yacht was built by the Defoe Boat and Motor Works in 1927 for Charles Sorenson of the Ford Motor Company. The yacht left Michigan waters in 1936 and served in World War II before returning in 1949. The Helene still exists and now spends her time in Lake St. Clair. If you would like to see a more recent photo of the Helene, please click here.

Cadillac

Who am I?

Initially The Rock identified this Mystery Ship as either the Cadillac or the Frontenac as both ships sailed for the Cleveland-Cliffs Steamship Company. Recently, Ted Wilush postitively identified the ship as the Cadillac. The Cadillac was initially named the Lake Angelina when launched in 1943. Once acquired by the Cleveland-Cliffs Steamship Company that same year she was renamed the Cadillac. The Cadillac was laid up for the last time 1981 and scrapped in 1987. To see a color picture of the Cadillac, please click here.

Santa Alicia / Santa Regina

The Saint Lawrence Seaway opened in 1959. Upon hearing this announcement, the Grace Line applied for and obtained an approval to operate a Great Lakes route. This proved to be a financial disaster for the company and the route was given up after one season. Two of the ships that the Grace Line operated on the Great Lakes were the Santa Alicia and the Santa Regina. The Santa Alicia began life in 1945 as the Coringa. She was built under the auspices of the U.S. War Department and went through several owners before coming to the Grace Line in 1957. She was sold in 1960 and scrapped in 1969. The Santa Regina began life much the same way as her sister ship. She was built under the auspices of the U.S. War Department as the John Land in 1943. The vessel served in World War II and received five battle stars. After the war, she went through several owners before coming to the Grace Line in 1957. She was sold in 1961 and scrapped in 1969.

George A. Sloan

Who am I?

This Mystery Ship appears to be a mystery no more! Originally identified by MikeM and The Rock as either the Robert C. Stanley or the George A. Sloan a comment by Anonymous has led to the ship being positively identified as the George A Sloan. The Hill Annex was one of sixteen “Maritime Class” freighters that were built in 1943 for the United States Maritime Commission by the Great Lakes Engineering Works in River Rouge, Michigan. During the summer of 1943 the ship was rechristened the George A. Sloan and delivered to the Pittsburgh Steamship Company, which was owned by U.S. Steel. The ship was part of the U.S. Steel fleet for over 50 years until she was sold in 2001 to Lower Lakes Towing Ltd. of Port Dover, Ontario, Canada. The ship was renamed the Mississagi and continues to sail the Great Lakes. If you would like to learn more about the George A Sloan, please click here. If you would like to see a color picture of the George A. Sloan from approximately the same time period, please click here.

Irvingwood

Who am I?

Thanks to Steamman for identifying the ship as the Irvingwood. The ship was built as a canaller in 1952 for the specific purpose of carrying pulpwood. She was scrapped in 1988. If you would like to see a 1977 photograph of the Irvingwood taken by Mac Mackay, please click here.

Regent

Who am I?

Thanks to Tonylast for identifying the ship as the Regent. The ship was built in 1934 for the Gulf Oil Corporation by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation. The ship held 16,000 barrels of oil. After serving Gulf for 40 years, the ship was sold to Nicaruga. In October of 1983, a fire broke out aboard the vessel and the ship sank near Bluefields City, Nicaragua. If you wish to see additional pictures of the Regent, please click here.

Mystery Ship

Who am I?