Identification & Site Information

• Name: Glenmount (formerly Omega and Fayette Brown)

• Official Number: C 138235 (Canadian registry)

• Type: Composite Bulk Carrier

• Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Co., Wyandotte, Michigan

• Launch Date: May 14, 1887

• Yard Number: 78

• Dimensions (Post-1920):

• Length Between Perpendiculars: 291.2 feet (88.7 m)

• Gross Tonnage: 2,111 tons

• Net Tonnage: 1,207 tons

Vessel Type and Construction

The Glenmount was a composite Bulk Carrier, featuring a wooden Hull over steel frames with steel upper sections. This combination of materials was a hallmark of 19th-century Great Lakes shipbuilding, offering strength and durability for bulk cargo operations such as transporting iron ore.

History of the Vessel

Early Years as Fayette Brown

• Originally built and launched as Fayette Brown, named after Mr. Fayette Brown, a notable figure in the American iron ore industry.

• Operated under the Northwestern Transportation Co. of Detroit, Michigan.

• Key incidents during this period:

• 1894: Collided with and sank the Tug O.W. Cheney near Sault Ste. Marie.

• 1896: Rebuilt and lengthened after sustaining lower Hull damage from ice at Duluth, Minnesota.

• 1898: Ran aground near Point Pelee, Lake Erie.

As Omega

• Renamed Omega on May 5, 1911, when ownership transferred to the Omega Transportation Company.

• Acquired by Montreal Transportation Co. in 1917 for $75,000, eventually joining the fleet of Canada Steamship Lines in 1921.

As Glenmount

• Renamed Glenmount when ownership shifted to Canada Steamship Lines (CSL) as part of fleet modernization.

• By 1923, the vessel was laid up at Midland, Ontario, due to obsolescence in an era of modern steel freighters.

• 1928: Efforts to repurpose the Hull as a dry dock at Wye Beach, near Tiffin, Ontario, failed.

• Final Fate: Broken up for scrap at Wye Beach.

Final Disposition

The Glenmount was dismantled after its operational and structural life came to an end. The failed attempt to convert it into a dry dock at Wye Beach underscores the decline of composite vessels as fully steel ships became the industry standard.

Significance

The Glenmount represents a transitional era in maritime design and commerce on the Great Lakes. Its long service life, despite numerous rebuilds and name changes, highlights the adaptability of composite freighters and their crucial role in transporting bulk cargo during North America’s industrial boom.

Resources & References

• Canada List of Shipping (1920–1927)

• Beeson’s “Steam Vessels of The Northwestern Lakes”

• Great Lakes Ship Database

• Canada Steamship Lines Historical Archive

• Devendorf’s “Great Lakes Bulk Carriers 1869–1985”

Suggested Keywords & Categories

• Keywords: Glenmount freighter, Omega Bulk Carrier, Fayette Brown, Wye Beach dismantling, Canada Steamship Lines history.

• Categories: Composite Freighters, Great Lakes Bulk Carriers, Maritime Obsolescence, Lake Erie Vessels.

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