ships

AZOF

Built in Port Dalhousie for J. McDonald, Goderich, Ontario by
J. Simpson, of Port Dalhosuie, in 1866.
The AZOF sank in Lake Huron, off Point Aux Barques.

JOHN HANLAN

Original owner: L. Solman., 1884, Toronto, Ontario.
Built by Abbey., in 1884, Port Dalhosuide, Ontario.
Engine Builder: Doty Engine Works., 1882, Canada
Later owned by the Toronto Transportation Commission and operated as a ferry from 1918 to 1927.

BANNOCKBURN

BANNOCKBURN shown tied up in Port Dalhousie

Another picture of BANNOCKBURN in Port Dalhousie. Ownerd by Montreal Transportation Co. of Montreal
Built by Sir Raylton Dixon and Co., in 1893, United Kingdom, England, Durham, Middlesborough

The BANNOCKBURN began her last voyage at the Canadian lakehead, loading 85,000 bushels of wheat at Port Arthur, Ontario. She left Port Arthur at 9 am on November 21, suffering a slight grounding but no apparent damage on her way out to the open lake. The Bannockburn was last seen by two upbound ships. No bodies and apparently all that was ever found was a single life jacket, with its straps tied together, and a oar. Lakes folklore enshrined the vessel as the Flying Dutchman of the Lakes.

There are many theories as to what went wrong. Interestingly when the Soo locks were drained at the end of that season, a hull plate from a ship was found in the lock. It was supposed to have belonged to the Bannockburn -but the Bannockburn was only nine years old.

The only known memorial to the forgotten, ghostly Bannockburn is a stone tablet in a church in Port Dalhousie, Ontario. It is in memory of her Captain, George R. Wood, and was purchased by his brother.

The BANNOCKBURN was the sister ship to the "Rosemount".

MINNEDOSA

Schooner schooner MINNEDOSA, awaits upbound passage with GLENGARRY in this 1896 photo of Port Dalhousie by W. A. Traill. In the right background are ALGONQUIN and ROSEDALE.She was the last and the greatest of the thousand schooners built in Canada for the lakes. Her builders lavished labour and decoration upon her, She was as good a vessel as could be built from oak and iron in the 19th century. She was 250 feet long from stem to stern, 242 feet on the keel, 38 feet beam, 17 feet deep in the hold.

BROOKTON

Originally owned by the Mathews Steamship Company it was towed from Toronto to Port Dalhousie on June 2, 1933. It then became part of the Colonial Steamship Company and then sold to the Diamond Steamship Company in 1939,

The vessel was then rebuilt at Muir Brothers in 1940 and returned to service as the first GEORGE HINDMAN.

F.W. MOORE

The Misener's Colonial Steamship Company ship the F. W. MOORE was tied up at Cardinal, Ontario, when it was sold for scap t A. Newman and Company in October 1961. The F. W. MOORE was brought to Port Dalhousie and broken up in 1962.

FRANK WILKINSON

Another Colonial Steamship Company that operated through the 1958 shipping season and then tied up in Port Dalhousie in the spring of 1959. The ship was sold for scrap to Marine Salvage of Port Colborne in 1960 and then resold to A. Newman and Company in 1961. Scrapping began in Port Dalhousie in August of 1962.

TRENTON

The TRENTON operated for a number of years for the Colonial Steamship Company It was sold to A. Newman and Company in 1961. The vessel was brought to Port Dalhousie to join a number of other old canallers idle here waiting to be scapped. Her turn came in 1963

TRENTON at Port Colborne on April 1, 1956. (Ted Jones, courtesy Barry Anderson)

WALTER INKSTER

Originally built in 1895 she operated as the TURRET CAPE untilit was condemned in 1930 and sat idle in Port Colborne. The engine and boilers were removed and the ship was taken to Port Dalhousie and rebuilt as a barge in 1934.

The ship returned to Port Dalhousie in 1957 and was broken up for scrap at Muir Bros. by A. Newman and Company.

TURRET CAPE as a barge

JOHN S. PILSBURY

The Upper Lakes Shipping vessel, the JOHN S. PILSBURY, plied the lakes until the opening of the Seaway after which she did occassional grain storage duty in Toronto. She was subseauently sold to A. Newman and Company and towed to Port Dalhousie in 1962 and scrapped here two ywars later.

JOHN S. PILSBURY underway on Lake Ontario (James M. Kidd)

JAMES STEWART

After the Seaway opened the JAMES STEWART was no longer needed. She arrived at Port Dalhousie, under her own power and laid up. The ship was later sold to A. Newman and Company and broken up in 1961.

JAMES STEWART was eventually scrapped at Port Dalhousie (James M. Kidd)

SHIRLEY G. TAYLOR

SHIRLEY G. TAYLOR was idle at Toronto from 1959 to 1962. The vessel was towed to Port Dalhousie and finally scrapped by A. Newman and Company in 1964

SHIRLEY G. TAYLOR with a full load of pulpwood. (James M. Kidd)

PORT WELLER

The steam powered tug PORT WELLER was employed in and around Port Weller Dry Docks. She was replaced by the JAMES E. MCGRATH in 1963 and boken up for scrap at Port Dalhousie that year. James McGrath was a lifelong resident of Port Dalhousie

PORT WELLER had many different duties around the shipyard

KEYBAR

Retired Autumn 1961 and laid up at Kingston. Towed to Port Dalhousie June 1, 1963, and scrapped in drydock October 1963 by A. Newman & Co.

Owners: l) Keystone Transports Ltd. (1923-57). 2) LaVerendrye Line Ltd. (1957-63).

KEYPORT

Retired Autumn 1961 and laid up at Kingston, Towed to Port Dalhousie June 5, 1963, and broken up in drydock by A.Newman & Co. 1963.

Owners: (l) Keystone Transports Ltd. (1909-57). 2) LaVerendrye Line Ltd. (1957-63).

WAUBIC, ERIE ISLE, PRINCE NOVA.

Steel passenger propeller (twin screw) built 1909 at Collingwood by Collingwood Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. for Northern Navigation. Designed as day-boat for Georgian Bay service. Usually operated Midland-Parry Sound.

Sold 1922 to Rockport Navigation Co. Ltd., Kingston, and operated in Thousand Islands excursion trade.

Sold 1934 to A.R. and V.C. Irvine, Port Arthur, and operated between Port Arthur and Silver Islet. Sold 1937 to Capt. J. Earl McQueen, Amherstburg, and operated Kingsville-Leamington-Pelee Island on Lake Erie.

Damaged by fire at Kingsville, January 18, 1938. Rebuilt 1938 at Muir Bros. Drydock, Port Dalhousie, and repowered with Fairbanks-Morse diesels.

Sold 1943 to Northumberland Ferries Ltd., Charlottetown, and taken to east coast for ferry service to Prince Edward Island. Destroyed by fire at Pictou, Nova Scotia, July 6, 1959.

WAUBIC shown here in Georgian Bay

AJAX

Wooden tug built 1902 at Bobcaygeon, Ontario, for service on the Kawartha lakes as a rafting tug. 54.0 x 14.6 x 6.1. Gross 33, Net 23. Long owned by W. F. C. Boyd, Bobcaygeon, Acquired by the Lloyd Tankers fleet in 1934. About 1935 or 1936 she sank at her dock at Port Credit but was quickly salvaged by Russell Salvage units. After BRUCE HUDSON was converted to a steamer in 1939, she lay idle for several years at Port Dalhousie before being stripped. It is believed that her hull was laid to rest in the tug boneyard above Lock One and to the west of the Henley Grandstand.

ETHEL

Steel steam tug built 1895 at Sorel. 64.0 x 19.2 x 9.0. Gross 72, Net 49. Long operated by Sincennes MacNaughton Line Ltd., Montreal. Sold during the early 1930's to Harrigan Tug Lines, Port Dalhousie, and in the mid 1930's was chartered to Lloyd Tankers Ltd. for use with BRUCE HUDSON and ROY K. RUSSELL. Sold 1938 to the Russell Construction Co. Ltd., Toronto, and renamed (b) R. C. CO. TUG NO. 1. Later when Russell was reorganized as Russell Construction Ltd., she became (c) R. C. L. TUG NO. 1. When Balfour Beatty & Co. Canada Ltd., the owners of Russell Construction Ltd., went into receivership in 1962, she was sold to the Hamilton Harbour Commissioners and renamed (d) ARGUE MARTIN. Sold about 1967 to Evans McKeil Work Boats Ltd., Winona, Ontario, and still operates out of Hamilton. Latterly converted to diesel power.

BRUCE HUDSON

BRUCE HUDSON entering Port harbour in 1939

Steel tank barge built 1935 by Horton Steel Works Ltd. at Fort Erie, Ontario. 164 x 30 x 11.5. Gross 452.As a result of the poor operating experience of the barge, it was decided to rebuild her as a steamer at Muir's Drydock at Port Dalhousie, the job being done in 1939. She was lengthened 8 feet and fitted with twin screws powered by steam engines which had previously seen service in the passenger steamer WAUBIC. Her boilers came from C.S.L.'s MARTIAN (I) formerly the MARS (I) of Cleveland's Gilchrist fleet. The rebuild made her more seaworthy but her troubles were not over. On July 27, 1943, she caught fire while loading gasoline at East Chicago. Captain Ross Hindman of Midland, his 16-year old son, and two other crewmen were killed in the resultant explosion. The superstructure was badly damaged but the tanker did not sink.

She was towed to Muir's yard for repairs, arriving at Port Dalhousie on August 10, 1943.

CHARPENTIER, (b) VERNON (22), (c) CEDARBAY (36), (e) COASTAL CASCADES.

Twin screw steel steam coaster built 1919 at La Seyne, France, After service in the package freight and bulk trades, she was sold in 1936 to Lloyd Refineries Ltd. She was converted to a tanker at Port Dalhousie by Muir's Drydock during August-November 1936 and renamed (d) JOAN VIRGINIA in honour of L. B. Lloyd's daughter. Sold 1947 to Transit Tankers and Terminals Ltd., Montreal.

Lloyd Refinery JOAN VIRGINIA wintering at Muir Bros.

BLUE CROSS

RED HEAD (34), (c) LAKE TRANSPORT (I)(67), (d) CONGAR (I)(69), (e) ONG (70), (f) WINOC. (C.154909).

Steel dry bulk cargo barge built 1930 at Montreal by Canadian Vickers Ltd., Hull 112. 254.7 x 43.5 x 19.0, Net 1524. Built for Red Barge Lines Ltd., Sorel, a subsidiary of North American Elevators Ltd. and affiliated with Sin-Mac Lines Ltd., Montreal. Sold early 1934 to Burdette Clark's Blue Line Motorships Ltd., Montreal, and rebuilt as a twin screw diesel bulk carrier at Port Dalhousie by Muir Bros. Dry Dock Ltd., 1934. Gross 1786, Net 1405. Upper Lakes & St. Lawrence Transportation Co. Ltd., Toronto, became interested in Blue Line in autumn 1934 and bought out Clark's interest in 1935. Blue Line Motorships absorbed by Upper Lakes & St. Lawrence 1940. Converted to tanker 1940 by Muir Bros. at Port Dalhousie. Chartered to Shell 1940-42 and purchased by Shell 1942. Sold 1946 to Heathdale Agencies Ltd., Toronto, and operated under charter to British American Oil Co. Ltd., Toronto, in conjunction with Gayport Shipping Co. Ltd., Montreal. Sold 1959 to Hall Corporation of Canada Ltd. Operated 196l-63 under charter to Husky Oil Canada Ltd. After several years of idleness, sold 1966 to Johnstone Shipping Ltd., Toronto, and returned to service 1967. Sold November 1969 to Natomas of Canada Ltd., Hamilton, Ont., for service as an offshore bunkering tanker at Antigua.

BLUE CROSS

TALARALITE (47) (b) IMPERIAL MIDLAND (53) (c) WILLOWDALE (137907).

Built in 1918 Collingwood Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. 250 x 43.8 x 23.5. Gross 2631, net 1394. Rebuilt as dry bulk carrier at Port Dalhousie 1952-53. Gross 2335, net 1356. Scrapped at Toronto 1963. Owners: l) Imperial Oil (1918-52). 2) Reoch Transports Ltd. (1952-63). 3) Ship Repair & Supply Ltd.

J. R. BINNING

Wooden tug, built 1916, Sorel, Que. 53.1 x 15.5 x 7.7. Gross 58, Net 31. Owned for a short period by Canada Steamship Lines Ltd., Montreal. Operated for many years on the Welland Canal by J. W. Harrigan, Port Dalhousie. Engines removed 1942 and hull abandoned in Muir's Pond, Port Dalhousie.

IMPERIAL COBOURG

Arrived at the Ashbridge's Bay terminal at Toronto on December 13th, 1952. She unloaded and cleaned her tanks and then sailed for Port Dalhousie. There she laid up in the upper harbour along with her retired running mate IMPERIAL MIDLAND. She was purchased by Powell Transports Ltd. of Winnipeg, Kenneth A. Powell, manager, a firm associated with Hallet & Carey Ltd., prominent grain dealers. In the early spring of 1953, IMPERIAL COBOURG was placed on the Port Dalhousie drydock and there she was rebuilt as a grain carrier.

The steamer emerged with her pilothouse moved back immediately forward of the funnel. She retained her trunk and atop this were fitted folding hatches. As a stemwinder, she showed more than ever the tremendous sheer of her deck and she looked much like a large version of the old "rabbits," small wooden lumber carriers with everything aft. As Powell's other steamer was named STARBUCK, it was only natural that their new acquisition should be christened STARBELLE and it was under this name that she entered service in the early summer of 1953. Her revised tonnage was 2274 Gross, 1349 Net.

STARBELLE operated mainly in the grain trade from the Lakehead to the Bay Ports and to Goderich

MANITOULIN

From The Standard " Glimpses into our Past" Series

A laker's days end as scrap

Ship-breaking is common these days in the southern end of the Niagara Peninsula. Two scrapyards devoted to cutting up lake vessels operate at Port Colborne while a third is located at Port Maitland.
However, for many years the demolition of obsolete lake carriers was a common occurance on the northern end of the Henley Course in Port Dalhousie.

With the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959, the smaller lake vessels originally built to navisate the short and
shallow St. Lawrence River locks ceased to exist. One by one, they went to the ship-breakers.

Many wound up at Port Dalhousie and the old Muir Brothers yard. Gutted of everything from their engines and their wood panelling to their brass and bunks, the old ships were reduced to sheets of steel for melting down.

Among some of the more familiar Manitoulin, shown here.
Built in 1929 as the Imari, this Quebec and Ontario Transportation Co. pulpwood, grain and coal carrier was retired from service in 1960, A year later, she was scrapped at Port Dalhousie.

Series photo No. 276 from The Standard's historical files, with background from E. B. (Skip) Gillham.

MANITOULIN being broken up

GROVEDALE (I), (a) ROBERT WALLACE (l6), (b) TREGASTEL (21), (c) GLENDOWAN (26), (d) CHANDLER (42), (e) ASPENLEAF (49), (f) HELEN HINDMAN (I) (52). U.S. 111466. Can. 145463.

Built in 1903 by Buffalo Dry Dock Co., Buffalo, Hull 204. 246 x 41 x 18.8. Gross 1640, net 944. Requisitioned for salt water service 1916 and sold to the French Government. Returned to lakes 1921. Laid up 1931-43. Rebuilt 1942-43 at Sorel. Gross 1521, net 881. Deepened at Port Dalhousie 1953. Gross 1903, net 1315. Scrapped at Port Weller 1959. Owners: 1) Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Transportation Co.(1903-16). 2) Glen Line Ltd. (1921-25). 3) Geo. Hall Coal Co. Ltd. (1925-26). 4) Canada Steamship Lines Ltd. (1926-37). 5) Marine Industries Ltd. (1937-43). 6) Leaf Barges Div., Branch Lines Ltd. (Marine Industries) (1943-49). 7) Diamond Steamship Co. Ltd. (1949-52). 8) Reoch Steamship Co. Ltd. (1952-56). 9) Upper Lakes & St. Lawrence Transportation Co. Ltd.(1956-59).

PARKDALE (I), (a) S. N. PARENT (16), (b) VEULETTES (21), (c) GLENARM (26), (d) CAM-ROSE (42), (e) PALMLEAF (49), (f) BLANCHE HINDMAN (I) (52). U.S. 117240. Can. 145464.

Built in 1903 at Detroit Shipbuilding Co., Wyandotte, Mich., Hull 151. 245.8 x 41 x 18.8. Gross 1640, net 987. Requisitioned for salt water service 1916 and sold to the French government. Returned to lakes 1921. Laid up 1931-43. Rebuilt 1942-43 at Sorel. Gross 1522, net 892. Deepened to 20.7 at Port Dalhousie 1953. Gross 1912, net 1311. Scrapped at Port Weller 1959. Owners: 1) Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Transportation Co. (1903-16). 2) Glen Line Ltd., (1921-25). 3) Geo. Hall Coal Co. Ltd. (1925-26). 4) Canada Steamship Lines Ltd. (1926-37). 5) Marine Industries Ltd., (1937-43). 6) Leaf Barges Div., Branch Lines Ltd. (Marine Industries), (1943-49). 7) Diamond Steamship Co. Ltd. (1949-52). 8) Reoch Steamship Co. Ltd. (1952-56). 9) Upper Lakes & St. Lawrence Transportation Co. Ltd., (1956-59).

NEW YORK NEWS (I) (33), (b) SHELTER BAY (I) (58), (c) LABRADOC. Can. 146581.

Built in 1922 by North of Ireland Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Londonderry, Hull 101. 250.2 x 43.0 x 16.8. Gross 1670, net 970. Capacity 1100 cords pulp. Scrapped at Port Dalhousie 1961. Owners: 1) O.T.& P. Co. (1922-33). 2) Q&O (1933-58), 3) N.M.Paterson & Sons Ltd. (1958-61). 4) A.Newman & Co. Ltd., St. Catharines (1961).

ESCORT

The wooden tug Escort used to tow sailing schooners and ships through the Third Welland Canal.

The vessel was built by Wm. Ross at Port Colborne and it went to work for Carter's Welland Canal Tug Co. in 1894. This ship was designed to tow the SCHOONER Minnedosa.

On Nov. 23, 1907, Escort sank off Port Dalhousie when trying to connect to the barge Benjamin Harrison.

Three lives were lost aboard the tug and it was not refloated until January 1908. The 13.66-metre long vessel was repaired and returned to service in April.

Escort later moved to the Montreal Transportation Co. and then came under the management of Canada Steamship Lines in 1916. It was sold to John J. Harrigan about 1921 and based at Port Dalhousie for the Harrigan Tug Line.

Original Name: Britamoco.
Other Names: Gulf Transport.
Nonna Valeria, 1970
Owner: Gayport Shipping, Ltd.
Builder: Furness Shipbuilding Co., 1932, England, Haverton Hill on Tees
Engine Builder: North Eastern Marine Engine Co., 1932
Year Built: 1932
Year Engine Built: 1932

Original Name: Britamlube.
Other Names: Bay Transport.
Capraia.
Owner: Gayport Shipping, Ltd.
Builder: Furness Shipbuilding Co., 1932, England, Haverton Hill on Tees
Engine Builder: North Eastern Marine Engine Co., 1932
Year Built: 1932
Year Engine Built: 1932

Original Name: Livingston.
Owner: Colonial Steamship Co., 1933
Builder: Armstrong, Whitworth & Co., 1928, United Kingdom, England, Newcastle
Engine Builder: Armstrong, Whitworth & Co., 1928, United Kingdom, England, Newcastle
Year Built: 1928
Year Engine Built: 1928
Final Disposition: Lost by enemy action, September 3, 1944, 80 miles East of Cape Breton; 14 lives.

Original Name: Fair River.
Other Names: Frank Wilkinson.
Owner: Colonial Steamship Co., 1950, Canada, Ontario, Port Colborne, Last owner
Builder: Barclay, Curle & Co., 1929, Canada, Scotland, Glasgow
Engine Builder: Barclay, Curle & Co., 1929, Canada
Year Built: 1929
Year Engine Built: 1929
Final Disposition: Scrapped at Port Dalhousie, Ontario in 1961.

Original Name: John Irwin.
Other Names: Texaco Brave.
Cyclo Brave.
Owner: Texaco Canada, Ltd., Canada, Quebec, Montreal, Later Don Mills
Builder: Furness Shipbuilding Co., 1929, United Kingdom, England,Haverton-Hill On Tees
Engine Builder: North Eastern Marine Engine Co., 1929, Canada
Year Built: 1929
Year Engine Built: 1929
Final Disposition: Scrapped in 1975.

Information sources include:

University of Detroit Mercy Fr. Edward J. Dowling, S.J. Marine Historical Collection

http://www.halinet.on.ca/Greatlakes

http://www.hhpl.on.ca/GreatLakes

http://search-recherche.collectionscanada.ca