COL. JAMES M. SCHOONMAKER downbound in Lake St. Clair, June 23, 1951. Photo by J. H. Bascom

The past few years have seen a number of smaller Great Lakes vessel operators leave the ship-owning scene, either going out of business or concentrating on chartered tonnage. In most cases, the companies involved have been fairly small concerns but the most recent withdrawal was a large American industrial firm, the Shenango Furnace Company of Pittsburgh.

The familiar green hull and orange boot top of the Shenango fleet has long been a refreshing change from the usual drab colours of the lake ore carrier. It was back in 1906 that the company commenced vessel ownership when it formed the Shenango Steamship Company specifically to transport its iron ore cargoes. The new concern took delivery of its first ship, the WILLIAM P. SNYDER, the same year and followed in 1907 with the WILPEN. A well known Cleveland vessel manager, Harvey H. Brown, operated the ships until 1912 when Shenango opened its own Cleveland office and took over operational control. The Shenango Steamship Company was wound up in 1926 and the two ships were sold. The SNYDER was renamed ELTON HOYT II (I) by her new owners and later became the ALEX D.CHISHOLM, She now operates as a bulk cement carrier under the name MEDUSA CHALLENGER. WILPEN became the DAVID P. THOMPSON and serves the American Steamship Co. as JOSEPH S. YOUNG (II).

WILLIAM P. SNYDER JR., showing her orange boot top, heads up Little Rapids cut, August 15, 1957. Photo by J. H. Bascom

The parent company became a vessel owner and operator in its own right in 1909 and obtained its first ship in a most unusual way. The company traded a large amount of raw iron ore to one of the large steel companies and received in return a quantity of ship steel. The steel was then traded to the Great Lakes Engineering Works for the new ship which was named SHENANGO, She remained in the fleet until sold in 1958. She sails now as A.T. LAWSON for the Wilson Marine Transit Company.

The same type of trade resulted in the building in 1911 and 1912, respectively, of COL. JAMES M. SCHOONMAKER and WILLIAM P. SNYDER, JR. at the time of their completion, the two largest bulk carriers on the lakes. Both wore known for their luxurious guest quarters. The last vessel built for the fleet was SHENANGO II, completed at Toledo in 1959. She remained in the company's colours until sold in 1967 to Pickands Mather & Co., Cleveland, and renamed CHARLES M. BEEGHLY. The SNYDER JR. went to P.M. the same year but was chartered back to Shenango during 1967 and 1968. She appeared this year in the colours of the Interlake fleet.

SHENANGO II is upbound in Little Rapids in the St. Mary's River below the Soo Locks, June 17, 1959. Photo by J. H. Bascom

The SCHOONMAKER was chartered to Wilson for 1965 and 1966 but then reverted to her owners' operation. Early in 1969 the Shenango lake operations finally ceased as this, their last vessel, joined the Pickands Mather fleet. She was immediately chartered to the Republic Steel Corporation for a three-year period and renamed WILLIS B. BOYER.

And so the famous "Shenango Green" hulls have now disappeared and one of the more interesting small vessel operations is a thing of the past. There follows a complete fleet listing.

WILLIAM P. SNYDER, (b) ELTON HOYT II (I), (c) ALEX D. CHISHOLM, (d) MEDUSA CHALLENGER, (U.S. 202859). Built 1906 by Great Lakes Engineering Works, Ecorse, Michigan, as Hull 17. 530 x 56.2 x 32. 6939 gross tons, 5492 net. Triple expansion engines replaced 1950 with 4-cylinder Skinner Unaflow. Converted 1967 to bulk cement carrier. Owners: l) Shenango Steamship Co., 1906-1926; 2) Stewart Furnace Co., 1926-1929; 3) Youngstown Steamship Co., 1929-1930; 4) Interlake Steamship Co., 1930-1966; 5) Medusa Portland Cement Co.

WILPEN, (b) DAVID P. THOMPSON, (c) JOSEPH S. YOUNG (II). (U.S. 204238). Built 1907 by Great Lakes Engineering Works, Ecorse, Michigan, as Hull 28. 554 x 58.2 x 33. 7612 gross tons, 5851 net. Triple expansion engines replaced 1959 with 3-cylinder Skinner Unaflow. Owners: 1) Shenango Steamship Co., 1907-1926; 2) Pioneer Steamship Co., 1926-1961; 3) American Steamship Co. Converted to self-unloader 1957.

SHENANGO, (b) B. W. DRUCKENMILLER, (c) A. T. LAWSON. (U.S. 206329). Built 1909 by Great Lakes Engineering Works, Ecorse, Michigan, as Hull 62. 580.8 x 58.2 x 33. 8047 gross tons, 6498 net. Triple expansion engines replaced 1952 with 2-cylinder steam turbine. Owners: l) Shenango Furnace Co., 1909-1958; 2) American Steamship Co., 1958-1964; 3) Wilson Marine Transit Co.

COL. JAMES M. SCHOONMAKER, (b) WILLIS B. BOYER. (U.S. 209185). Built 1911 by Great Lakes Engineering Works, Ecorse, Michigan, as Hull 82. 590 x 64.2 x 34.2. 8603 gross tons, 6650 net. Quadruple expansion engines replaced 1952 with 2-cylinder steam turbine. Owners: Shenango Furnace Co., 1911-1969; 2) Pickands Mather & Co.

WILLIAM P. SNYDER, JR. (U.S. 209662). Built 1912 by Great Lakes Engineering Works, Ecorse, Michigan, as Hull 83. 590 x 64.2 x 34.2. 8603 gross tons, 6650 net. Quadruple expansion engines replaced 1950 with 5-cylinder Skinner Unaflow. Owners: l) Shenango Furnace Co., 1912-1967; 2) Pickands Mather & Co.

SHENANGO II (b) CHARLES M. BEEHLY. (U.S. 278807). Built 1959 by American Shipbuilding Co., Toledo, as Hull 193. 690.4 x 75.9 x 32.9. 13598 gross tons, 8405 net. 2-cylinder steam turbine. Owners: l) Shenango Furnace Co., 1959-1967; 2) Pickands Mather & Co.

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