1910 J. P. Morgan Jr. 1980
Steel Great Lakes bulk freighter
Built at Lorain OH by American Ship Building Co., Hull 373
Launched Nov 13, 1909
601’ LOA, 580’ LBP, 58’ beam, 32’ depth
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, hatches @ 12’, coal-fired boilers, triple expansion engine, 1880 IHP
Enrolled at Duluth MN April 6, 1910 (#22)
580.0 x 58.0 x 32.0, 7521 GT, 5824 NT US 207250 to:
Pittsburgh Steamship Co., Cleveland OH (home port Duluth MN)
Entered service April 15, 1910 clearing Lorain OH light for Duluth MN
Remeasured 1944 to 586.5 length and 7719 GT, 5995 NT
Severely damaged June 23, 1948 in collision with str. Crete in fog off Devil’s Island, Apostle Islands, Lake Superior. Bow crushed, foremast fell, pilot house wrecked and 2 crew members killed in forecastle. Repaired at Lorain OH by American Ship Building Co.
Remeasured to 7694 GT, 6076 NT
Fleet reincorporated 1949 in Delaware (home port to Wilmington DE)
Fleet merged July 1951 into parent United States Steel Corporation (home port to New York NY)
Fleet renamed United States Steel Great Lakes Fleet 1967 (home port to Wilmington DE)
Laid up at Duluth MN at end of 1976 season and did not operate again
Sold for scrap 1980 to Ronald S. Enterprises. Resold to Spanish shipbreakers. Cleared Quebec QC Oct 4, 1980 with str Eugene J. Buffington towed by tug Hirtenhurm. Tow arrived Bilbao Spain Oct 22, 1980.
IMO 5166861
1015
Hi, just came across some original photos of the J.P. Morgan right after its’ accident in 1948. Lots of damage! Do you have photos of the aftermath of the collision?
I served on the Morgan in the summer, fall and early winter of 1970. Laid up in Duluth for the winter. Finished that task on Dec 23. Was a coal passer/wiper. 17 years old when I started and 18 when done. Quite a ship. Smaller and slower than almost any other ship in the GLF. Any forecast of inclement weather we anchored. Believe that the biggest problem it had was a bent screw. One of those deals that a replacement was more than the value of the ship. On a ship with a crew of 35 we went through over 100 men in the 5 months I was sailing. Was called back for the next year but that pesky South East Asian War took my life in another direction. Thanks for the info you provided.
Served with you in 1970 through layup in Duluth – finished as deck watch
I was a crewmemer on the Morgan Jr. In 1965, but never knew of the cossision with the Crete until today.
I have a very old, round wooden, picture frame that says J P Morgan Jr of Duluth. It was inherited from my father -in-law who sailed an R class boat on the Great Lakes in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s out of the Cleveland Yacht Club. If there is a museum that might like to have this frame would someone let me know? I would love to donate it.
Dear Marilyn,I am not sure if you still have this picture frame but I sailed aboard this vessel.It was my first ship and I would love to help find some type of permanent home for this frame.As an Fyi,I am also in process of writing a book about my sailing days on the great lakes and am currently working on the chapters relevant to the JP Morgan JR. which is how I came upon your post.
National Museum of the Great Lakes has the binacle from the Morgan.
Hello, I have vintage photos of the SS JP Morgan Jr from the 1948 Crete Collision. My grandfather was a crewman at the time. I have pre-collision pictures of the coal room, boiler room, engine room, pictures of the crew and captain including the lookout on the day of the crash, and I even have pictures of the ships mascot, a dog named Tiny, at time of crash. I also have very good photos of the damage, and the tug boat that towed it to the shipyard for repair. If you are interested let me know.
I have donated photos to Bowling Green State University. They keep an extensive collection of Great Lakes shipping history. I’m sure they would love to have your donation.
Mark Sprang is the archivast of the Historical Collection of the Great Lakes at BGSU.
Contact the HCGL Archivist
Mark Sprang
Email: sprangm@bgsu.edu
Phone: 419-372-9613
Very interesting! I was a deck watch on the JPM in 1970. Did not know the historical details until finding this page.
The wheel and Nina leg are on display at The National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo.
I have donated photos to Bowling Green State University. They keep an extensive collection of Great Lakes shipping history. I’m sure they would love to have your donation.
Mark Sprang is the archivast of the Historical Collection of the Great Lakes at BGSU.
Contact the HCGL Archivist
Mark Sprang
Email: sprangm@bgsu.edu
Phone: 419-372-9613
Who was the captain of the JP Morgan Jr? My grandfather, Leslie Julien was a captain on the Great Lakes at that time. Thanks.
I sailed on the JP Morgan Jr in 1967..started as a coal passer but the Chief cook Vince Sersic felt pity and asked if I’d like to be a porter in the galley…great memories.
I sailed on the JP Morgan Jr. the summer and winter of 1965 as a coal passer it was my first ship. I laid it up in Toledo in late Dec. if I remember right. the following April I fitted out on the James A. Farrell as a deckhand and stayed on deck until 67 as an AB when I was drafted into the US Army. I remember just about everything during that time of my life like it was yesterday, grew up fast and learned all I could. hard to believe that was 58 years ago.