1898 Maida 1968
Steel Great Lakes bulk freight barge
Built at West Superior WI by American Steel Barge Co., Hull 142
Launched April 21, 1898
390’ LOA, 376’ LBP, 46’ beam, 26’ depth
1 deck, hold beams, hatches @ 24’
Enrolled at Marquette MI May 5, 1898 (Temp #27)
375.2 x 46.2 x 22.5, 3474.78 GT, 3210.74 NT US 92844 to:
Minnesota Steamship Co., Cleveland OH, Pickands Mather & Co., Mgr (home port Ashtabula OH)
Fleet owned by Minnesota Iron Mining Co. (parent company controlled by J. P. Morgan’s Federal Steel Co. 1900-1901)
Entered service 1898
Permanent enrollment at Cleveland OH June 14, 1898 (#89)
Fleet merged spring 1901 into Pittsburgh Steamship Co., Duluth MN, a subsidiary of United States Steel Corporation, A. B. Wolvin, Mgr. (home port to Duluth MN)
Sold Sept 1924 to Pringle Barge Line Co.,
Converted 1929 to conveyor-type self-unloader at Cleveland OH by Interlake Engineering Co.
Fleet merged 1957 into parent Oglebay Norton Co., Cleveland OH
Sold for scrap 1968 to Marine Salvage Ltd., Port Colborne ON. Towed down Welland Canal Nov 15, 1969 and scrapped at Hamilton ON by United Metals Ltd.
X809
I’m trying to find out information about my Great Grandfather, Capt Otis W. Holdridge. I believe he captained this ship in the 1800’s or early 1900′. He nay hgave liist his life when swept overboard in a storm on Lake Superior. Any information you may know would be appreciated .
Thanks
Steve Harding
I have the announced beginning of the season captain assignments starting for 1899. I have Otis W. Holdridge as captain of barges of the Bessemer, then merged into the Pittsburgh, Steamship Cos. through 1912. He was assigned to the John Scott Russell for 1899 and 1900, Alexander Holley 1901-1903, Maida 1904-1907, (no barges in commission — or Otis Holdridge — for 1908), W. LeBaron Jenney 1909-10 and 137 1911-1912. They didn’t list any barges for 1913 and I don’t find Capt. Holdridge after that.
I also see a George Holdridge captaining steamers starting 1904 and still going 1915. Could this be a brother of Otis?