1905                                  William G. Mather     1                                  1996

Steel Great Lakes bulk freighter

Built at Ecorse MI by Great Lakes Engineering Works, Hull 9
Keel laid May 18, 1905; launched Sept 23, 1905

533’ LOA, 513’ LBP, 60’ beam, 31’ depth
First Great Lakes freighter with a 60-foot beam.
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, hatches @ 12’, coal-fired boilers, triple expansion engine, 2000 IHP

Enrolled at Detroit MI Dec 7, 1905 (#29)
513.0 x 60.2 x 32.0, 6838 GT, 5183 NT     US 202542     to:
John R. Russell

Entered service 1905

Reenrolled at Marquette MI Jan 25, 1906 (#25) to:
Grand Island Steamship Co., Cleveland OH, Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co., Mgr. (home port to Ishpeming MI)

Transferred 1919 to Cleveland-Cliffs Steamship Co. (home port to Fairport OH)

Renamed J. H. Sheadle  (2) 1925

Home port to Wilmington DE 1932

Renamed H. L. Gobeille 1955

Did not operate 1962 and 1963 seasons

Sold 1964 to Gartland Steamship Co., Chicago IL, D. Sullivan & Co., Mgr.
Converted to self-unloader at Manitowoc WI by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co.
Remeasured to 7513 GT, 5229 NT

Renamed Nicolet 1965

Fleet sold Feb 1969 to American Steamship Co., Buffalo NY.  (Fleet managed by Boland & Cornelius but continued as a subsidiary under its former name.)

Repowered 1974 with diesel engine at Bay City MI by Defoe Shipbuilding Co.

Forward cabins extensively damaged Dec 29, 1979 in fire in her unloading gear caused by sparks from an acetylene torch while vessel was undergoing repairs at Toledo OH by Hans Hansen Welding Co.  New pilot house and other cabins installed at Toledo by American Ship Building Co.  Vessel returned to service spring 1981.

Transferred 1986 to parent American Steamship Co.

Laid up end of 1990 season at Toledo OH and did not operate again.

Sold for scrap 1996 to International Marine Salvage.  Towed to Port Maitland ON and scrapped.

IMO 5139076

0520