I was always interested in this vessel in my younger days when I was hanging around Confederation Park, it was brought there by our past Alderman Reg. Wheeler. Many thanks to Len Wheeler for sending in all the info and history of the ship.
Also thanks (again) to Skip Gillham for allowing his work to be posted.
Political whim casts off floating museum
Wed., Jul 01, 2015 | By Skip Gillham
Political whim casts off floating museum
While there are five large retired bulk carriers, as well as a variety of other vessels, serving as museum ships on the American side of the Great Lakes, Canada only has a pair of former Manitoulin Island ferries, a tug or two and a one-time Coast Guard vessel as a bed and breakfast at Kingston, preserved as museums.
The closest perhaps was the effort to save the historic steamer John Ericsson at Hamilton in the late 1960s. Although the ship was donated to the city, a berth was created at Confederation Park and the ship parked there, city council changed course and turned down the offer. As a result, the ship was pulled back out into Lake Ontario and to the scrap dock of United Metals for dismantling.
The John Ericsson sailed in seven different fleets but none of the owners changed its name. The vessel was built at West Superior, WI and launched on July 11, 1896. It was the last of the whaleback-styled bulk carriers to enter service and the 123.44 metre long vessel went to work for the American Steel Barge Co. and usually towed other company whaleback barges in the ore and coal trades.
Whalebacks were designed to have reduced friction in riding through the water. They had rounded sides and what was described as a "snout" at the bow which led to them being known as "pig boats". However, there were loading and unloading complications and more advanced designs for Lakers left the whalebacks, while functional, behind the times.
John Ericsson was sold on several occasions before coming to Canada for the Great Lakes Transit Co. Ltd. in 1930. When it came through the yet unfinished Fourth Welland Canal on Dec. 5, 1930, it was the largest ship to that date to test the new waterway.
In 1938, the ship was acquired by the Upper Lakes & St. Lawrence Transportation Co. and filled a vital niche in the grain trade. It often towed company barges doubling the trip capacity with only a fifty percent increase in the number of crew. John Ericsson often travelled to the Georgian Bay ports but also came down the Welland Canal for Toronto after dropping off its grain laden barge at Port Colborne only to retrieve it on the upbound passage.
John Ericsson made news in 1963 when it was reactivated in an effort to break a blockade imposed against Upper Lakes Shipping in a labour dispute. The ship made its final trip down the Welland Canal with grain for Toronto on Dec. 7, 1963, and was idle there until heading to Hamilton in 1965. It was berthed at Confederation Park on June 7, 1966, but political pressure caused the ship to be returned to the company and broken up at Hamilton in 1967-1968.
Skip Gillham, now in his 19th year with The Leader, is the author of a number of books. His book "The Ships of Upper Lakes Shipping" is available at Crew's Quarters in Port Colborne and at the St. Catharines Museum.
Last photo in Confederation Park.
Also thanks (again) to Skip Gillham for allowing his work to be posted.
Political whim casts off floating museum
Wed., Jul 01, 2015 | By Skip Gillham
Political whim casts off floating museum
While there are five large retired bulk carriers, as well as a variety of other vessels, serving as museum ships on the American side of the Great Lakes, Canada only has a pair of former Manitoulin Island ferries, a tug or two and a one-time Coast Guard vessel as a bed and breakfast at Kingston, preserved as museums.
The closest perhaps was the effort to save the historic steamer John Ericsson at Hamilton in the late 1960s. Although the ship was donated to the city, a berth was created at Confederation Park and the ship parked there, city council changed course and turned down the offer. As a result, the ship was pulled back out into Lake Ontario and to the scrap dock of United Metals for dismantling.
The John Ericsson sailed in seven different fleets but none of the owners changed its name. The vessel was built at West Superior, WI and launched on July 11, 1896. It was the last of the whaleback-styled bulk carriers to enter service and the 123.44 metre long vessel went to work for the American Steel Barge Co. and usually towed other company whaleback barges in the ore and coal trades.
Whalebacks were designed to have reduced friction in riding through the water. They had rounded sides and what was described as a "snout" at the bow which led to them being known as "pig boats". However, there were loading and unloading complications and more advanced designs for Lakers left the whalebacks, while functional, behind the times.
John Ericsson was sold on several occasions before coming to Canada for the Great Lakes Transit Co. Ltd. in 1930. When it came through the yet unfinished Fourth Welland Canal on Dec. 5, 1930, it was the largest ship to that date to test the new waterway.
In 1938, the ship was acquired by the Upper Lakes & St. Lawrence Transportation Co. and filled a vital niche in the grain trade. It often towed company barges doubling the trip capacity with only a fifty percent increase in the number of crew. John Ericsson often travelled to the Georgian Bay ports but also came down the Welland Canal for Toronto after dropping off its grain laden barge at Port Colborne only to retrieve it on the upbound passage.
John Ericsson made news in 1963 when it was reactivated in an effort to break a blockade imposed against Upper Lakes Shipping in a labour dispute. The ship made its final trip down the Welland Canal with grain for Toronto on Dec. 7, 1963, and was idle there until heading to Hamilton in 1965. It was berthed at Confederation Park on June 7, 1966, but political pressure caused the ship to be returned to the company and broken up at Hamilton in 1967-1968.
Skip Gillham, now in his 19th year with The Leader, is the author of a number of books. His book "The Ships of Upper Lakes Shipping" is available at Crew's Quarters in Port Colborne and at the St. Catharines Museum.
Last photo in Confederation Park.
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