1880 Lehigh 1 1955
Iron Great Lakes package freighter
Built at Wyandotte MI by Detroit Dry Dock Co., Hull 39
Launched April 15, 1880
248’ LOA, 238’ LBP, 36’ beam, 26’ depth
2 decks, hatches @ 24’, coal-fired boiler, steeple compound engine
Enrolled at Detroit MI Sept 29, 1880 (Temp #37)
238.2 x 36.1 x 15.4, 1704 tons (gross tons, 1503.13 NT 1882) US 140424 to:
Erie & Western Transportation Co., Erie PA (home port Erie PA) Great Lakes vessel fleet of Pennsylvania Railroad, also known as the “Anchor Line”
Entered service 1880
Permanent enrollment at Buffalo NY Oct 4, 1880 (#4)
Sold 1913 to Lehigh Steamship Co., Cleveland OH, Harvey, Morrison & Co., Mgr (home port to Fairport OH). Converted to bulk freighter.
Remeasured to 1464 GT, 1035 NT.
Stranded 1914 near Manistique MI, Lake Michigan. Abandoned to underwriters as constructive total loss. Repaired and returned to previous owners.
Sold Oct 24, 1917 to Cuban interests for off-Lakes service during World War I and left Great Lakes. U. S. enrollment surrendered Jan 17, 1918
Sold Feb 12, 1920 at U. S. Marshal’s sale to George Hall Coal Company of Canada. Rebuilt at Lauzon QC by George T. Davie Shipbuilding and Repairing Co.
Enrolled Canadian at 247.9 x 35.6 x 15.3, 1506 GT, 888 NT Can 141839 (home port Montreal QC)
Firm name changed 1922 to George Hall Coal and Shipping Corporation
Fleet sold 1926 to Canada Steamship Lines, Montreal QC
Renamed Ponoka 1927
Sold 1930 to Century Coal Co.
Sold 1940 to United Towing & Salvage Co., Port Arthur ON. Towed to Port Arthur, where a crane was installed on her deck and she was used as a lighter barge
Sold 1955 to Duluth Iron & Metal Co., Superior WI and scrapped at Duluth
X033
My folks are moving and I just inherited a model of the Lehigh. My uncle Jac Purdon served on her in 1959 and made model of her while on board.
We will be cleaning it up and displaying her in our entryway at our company, a steel service center.