1943 E. G. Grace 1984
Steel Great Lakes bulk freighter
Built at Lorain OH by American Ship Building Co., Hull 829
Keel laid Dec 5, 1942, launched June 17, 1943
Built for U. S. Maritime Commission, Class L6-S-A1 under its World War II vessel construction program. Launched as Lincolnshire. Renamed E. G. Grace and delivered at commissioning to Interlake Steamship Co., taking in trade (for this vessel and for strs. Frank Armstrong and Frank Purnell) seven older vessels of the fleet for part of the purchase price
620’ LOA, 605’ LBP, 60’ beam, 35’ depth
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, 18 hatches @ 24’, coal-fired boilers, compound engine, 2500 IHP
Enrolled at
604.8 x 60.2 x 30.2, 8758 GT, 6472 NT US 243830 to:
Interlake Steamship Co., Cleveland OH (home port Wilmington DE)
Entered service Oct 2, 1943 clearing Lorain OH light for Superior WI
Laid up Dec 1986 at Ashtabula OH and did not operate again
Sold for scrap 1984 to Marine Salvage Ltd., Port Colborne ON. Towed to Humberstone (Port Colborne) and scrapped
IMO 5095505
See history in Detroit Marine Historian July 1984 (#4)
Also in Great Lakes Ships We Remember III p. 150
4313
I have a stamped sterling silver rectangular box engraved as follows:
STEAMER E.G. GRACE
Built by
AMERICAN SHIPBUILDING CO.
For
U.S. MARITIME COMMISSION
Launched
JUNE 12, 1945
AT LORAIN, OHIO
Sponsor
MRS. FREDERICK A. SHICK
Inside is a red/white/blue flag (that I assume was on the bow or stern flag) under glass below a wooden 3-compartment level with 3 partitions.
Helen Shick was my aunt, and she gave me this box decades ago.
Would you have any interest in having this?
My grandfather, Captain Alfred C. Drouillard, oversaw the completion of this boat and was captain from its commission October 3rd (not 2nd) 1943 until end of season 1951. Because he was able to watch over its final build he was dedicated to every detail being correct and ‘ship shape’. The result of his efforts paid off. During his time as captain they had no delays, accidents or layovers and were in the top bracket on financial returns for the entire Interlake fleet. He was very proud of that boat.
Red life ring on wall of CORK TOWN a restaurant in west Duluth. Aug 16 2028
My dad was marine engineer aboard this very excellent ship.
The family favorite of Interlake Steamship.
My father was the Captain of the E. G. Grace in 1975. On the evening of November 10, 1975, he was loading taconite in Duluth. Weather got ugly and they delayed departure until the morning. The rest is sad history. In memoriam…ut requiescant in pace to the 29 men of the Edmund Fitzgerald.