1907 Odanah 1955
Steel Great Lakes bulk freighter
Built at Lorain OH by American Ship Building Co., Hull 351
Launched July 31, 1907
440’ LOA, 420’ LBP, 52’ beam, 28’ depth
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, hatches @ 12’, coal-fired boilers, triple expansion engine, 1500 IHP
Enrolled at Cleveland OH Aug 23, 1907 (#10)
420.0 x 52.0 x 28.0, 4907 GT, 3588 NT US 204455 to:
Lackawanna Steamship Co., Cleveland OH, Pickands Mather & Co., Mgr. (home port Fairport OH)
Entered service 1907
Fleet renamed Interlake Steamship Co. 1913
Rebuilt 1921
Remeasured to 4658 GT, 3391 NT
Home port to Wilmington DE 1932
Sold 1954 to Wyandotte Transportation Co., Wyandotte MI and converted to a barge which was to have been renamed WyChem 106.
Remeasured to 4658 GT, 4658 NT
(Purchased by Wyandotte Chemicals Corporation to carry sodium chloride from Wyandotte MI to South Chicago IL. The operation was not successful, and this vessel was never officially renamed or used in the operation, but it did cause the railroads to lower their freight rates for this material between these cities.)
Sold for scrap 1955 to Kovalchick Salvage Co. Resold to Steel Company of Canada. Towed to Hamilton ON and scrapped there.
0708
My grandfather, Bruce Conlan, sailed on the Odana as ship’s steward or steward helper. He was born in St. Clair County, Grant Township (I think) and lived in Port Huron when he sailed. My grandmother wanted him home more with her and my infant father, Elwood Conlan. They relocated to Detroit/Highland Park, MI where he worked at the Ford Motor Company until his death by pneumonia in 1920. I have what looks like a professional picture of the Odanah, and some on-board snapshots of my grandfather as part of the crew.