Identification & Build

  • Type: Steel-hulled propeller-driven Great Lakes freighter
  • Built: 1905 by Detroit Shipbuilding Co. (Wyandotte, MI), Hull #158 (greatlakesvesselhistory.com, Flickr)
  • Dimensions: 525 ft × 55.16 ft × 31 ft; 6,282 GT / 4,930 NT (U.S. registry) (Flickr)

Power & Modifications

  • Originally powered by triple-expansion steam engine and two Scotch marine boilers (Wikipedia)
  • Re-engined in 1951–52 with an 1,800 HP 5-cylinder Skinner uniflow engine (Wikipedia)

Career Highlights & Incidents

  • 1905–1913: Owned by Mesaba Steamship Co. (Pickands Mather, mgrs.)
  • 1913–1964: Operated under Interlake Steamship Co. (Pickands Mather) (Flickr)
  • June 18, 1905: Struck and sank the wooden Steamer Etruria off Presque Isle Light in fog while downbound from Duluth (Wikipedia)
  • July 24, 1924: Collided with Merton E. Farr in fog off Isle Parisienne, Lake Superior; sustained $7,000 in damage (Wikipedia)
  • October 22, 1929: Weathered the storm that sank the train Ferry Milwaukee, downbound with coal, reportedly escaped serious harm (Wikipedia)
  • July 29, 1930: Rescued six crew from a capsized sandsucker near Dunkirk, Lake Erie (Wikipedia)

Final Disposition

  • 1964: Sold to Marine Salvage Ltd., Port Colborne, ON
  • May 1965: Hull, stripped of machinery and fittings, was sunk as a Breakwater (alongside Charles S. Hebard) at Charlevoix, MI for Medusa Portland Cement Co.—where it remains to this day (Wikipedia)

Significance & Legacy

  • Century-long service: Over six decades of operation, surviving storms, collisions, and evolving marine technology.
  • Maritime incidents: Noteworthy accidents include major fog collisions and lifesaving rescues, reflecting early 20th-century navigation risks.
  • Hull repurposing: Its final role as a Breakwater exemplifies maritime recycling practices—transforming retired freighters into shore protection infrastructure.
  • Survival status: As part of the Charlevoix Breakwater, its Hull is among the oldest intact bulk freighter hulks in freshwater, valuable for historical engineering and conservation studies (Wikipedia)

Research & Exploration Paths

  • Archival research: Seek original blueprints and engine-room layouts from the Detroit Shipbuilding Co., along with detailed logbooks of collision incidents.
  • Environmental impact: Assess the long-term ecological role of the Hull as an Artificial Reef and Breakwater.
  • Site documentation: Though intentionally sunk, the Amasa Stone remains partially visible at low water; consider sonar scans, aerial drone surveys, or coastal inspections—permissions may be required from Medusa/Cemex Charlevoix.