Other Names #
- M.C. HAWLEY
History #
The CITY OF GREEN BAY, originally named M.C. HAWLEY, was a wooden propeller dredge vessel built in 1880 by John Gregory in Fort Howard, Wisconsin. Its official number was 91228. The ship had dimensions of 131 feet in length, 20 feet in beam, and 8 feet in depth. It had a gross tonnage of 208.77 and a net tonnage of 171.94. The hull was constructed from wood and had two decks.
The vessel underwent several changes throughout its history. In 1884, it was renamed CITY OF GREEN BAY from its original name, M.C. HAWLEY. The ship originally operated as a sidewheeler but was converted to a propeller in 1889 after suffering a total loss due to fire in Green Bay or Milwaukee on November 17, 1887.
The CITY OF GREEN BAY had a varied ownership history. It was owned by Thomas Hawley of Green Bay, Wisconsin, when it was first built. Ownership later changed hands to McCormick & Co., then to McCormick and Thomas Hawley jointly. Eventually, Thomas Hawley became the sole owner of the vessel.
In 1908, the CITY OF GREEN BAY was converted into a dredge at Bay City, Michigan, undergoing further modifications. The vessel’s dimensions changed to 134 feet in length, 22.58 feet in beam, and 7 feet in depth. It had a gross tonnage of 208 and a net tonnage of 142.
Tragically, on August 19, 1909, the CITY OF GREEN BAY caught fire while crossing Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron. The fire burned the ship to the waterline, causing it to sink. The exact location of the incident is often referred to as either “Whistler’s Point” or “Sandstone Point.” No lives were lost in the accident.
The final enrollment of the CITY OF GREEN BAY was surrendered at Port Huron, Michigan, on August 24, 1909, and endorsed as “vessel lost.” The ship’s unfortunate demise marked the end of its sailing career.
It is worth noting that there are some discrepancies in historical records regarding the build year of the vessel. While some sources suggest that the CITY OF GREEN BAY was built in 1880, others claim it was constructed in 1866.
