1906 W. E. Fitzgerald 1971
Steel Great Lakes bulk freighter
Built at Wyandotte MI by Detroit Shipbuilding Co., Hull 167
Launched Sept 8, 1906
440’ LOA, 420’ LBP, 52’ beam, 28’ depth
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, hatches @ 12’, coal-fired boilers, triple expansion engine, 1650 IHP
Enrolled at Detroit MI Oct 4, 1906 (Temp #22)
420.0 x 52.2 x 29.0, 4940 GT, 3701 NT US 203561 to:
Chicago Navigation Co., Chicago IL, D. Sullivan & Co., Mgr. (home port Duluth MN)
Entered service Oct 10, 1906 clearing Detroit MI light to Duluth MN for iron ore.
Reenrolled at Duluth MN Oct 14, 1906 (#12)
Converted to scraper type self- unloader 1929 at Cleveland OH by Boom Electric Welding Co.
Transferred 1931 to Gartland Steamship Co. (home port to Gary IN)
Home port to Wilmington DE 1934
Fleet sold Feb 1969 to American Steamship Co., Buffalo NY. (Fleet managed by Boland & Cornelius but continued as a subsidiary under its former name.)
Sold for scrap 1971 to Dwor Metal Co. Ltd. (Marine Salvage Ltd.), Port Colborne ON. Scrapped at Port Colborne.
IMO 5384267
0609
I frist read about the W.E. FITZGERALD in school I have the big fitz now I can have the little fitz now .peolpe Ithink need tolook at the ships and thank them for the job they do. thank you shipping crews for the job you do.clum seas and fare winds Frank.
ANYONE OUT THERE THAT MAY HAVE WORKED WITH MY DAD WILLIAM “BILL” BRAUN OR MY BROTHER EMMETT GLEASNER ON THE FITZ. I WOULD LIKE TO HERE FROM YOU. MY DAD SAILED THE FITZ FROM THE MID TO LATE 40″S TILL 1957. HE DIED ON BOARD IN 1957. HE WAS 57 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH. MY BROTHER EMMETT SAILED WITH HIM FROM AROUND 1950 TILL 1955. I WAS 12 WHEN DAD DIED, NOW 67, AND I DON’T KNOW TO MUCH ABOUT HIM. THANK YOU BRENT BRAUN STURGEON BAY WISCONSIN.
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Sterling Berry
Brent- yes, my grandfather, John O’Brien, worked with your father on the Fitz. Please email me at jschon@runbox.com
Hi, My dad was the Third Mate on the Fitz for the 1955 season so he would have known your dad and brother. The season started and ended that year in Manitowac. The Captain was Henry M. Murray. My dad’s name was Joseph Meyer. He died in 1959 I an accident in Buffalo. Bonnie Meyer Tesson
I would like to help, however I was a simple deckhand that worked for the summer of 1965 to get money to go to college. Our skipper was the youngest on the Great Lakes, Captain James Galliger (I think that is the spelling) not sure. I thought that boat would go down before the Edmond because of the broomsticks I would need to put in the rivet holes to prevent water from leaking in. I was making $1.69.5 Per hour. The university took every cent. I got 45 credits in my first year toward a degree.
I have the pilot house name board from the W.E Fitzgerald which I bought as a kid at a yard sale in the 60’s. Nobody knew what is was but I did having been a voracious reader of great lake lore. I still have it and it’s in good condition. The person that I bought it from was a beach comber, so suspect it might have been torn off in a storm. Fitz sounds like she was a good ship.
That’s cool. My grandfather and uncle sailed the Fitz per the notes from my Uncle Brent above. Can you share a picture of it? pdb12061966@gmail.com.
I know who Big Fitz was named after and his nautical background. The W.E.Fitzgerald was launched in 1906. Same family? What relation?
I found this page looking up the freighter that was mentioned in this article. This freighter crashed into a lift bridge in ca. 1952 at Hamilton, Ontario. https://archive.org/details/sim_enr_1952-05-08_148_19/page/25/mode/1up
I can’t believe I’m still reading about the W.E. Fitzgerald my father worked for Gartland his sailing career deckhand to Captain (Christ Hanson) All the names are familiar to me. My Uncle and Aunt also sailed for Gartland Cook and 2nd cook (Marquette)
In researching my family history, I find my great uncle Myron Jensen sailed for Gartland for about 10 years on the Flagship Wolf. IT says he later sailed on the self-unloader Fitzgerald. I do not have much information besides that about Uncle Myron, other than he passed away in July 1963. Anyone here remember him? Can you share any information? Thank you!!
I worked 1959ish as deckhand. George Britton any body remember Gbyazzycm@gmail.com
If this is the same ship…my wife’s grandfather was the LeBlanc charged by the Crown
https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/6968/1/document.do