Other Names #
- ST. JOESPH
Site Description #
Moved to the Sarnia Boneyard
History #
The propeller vessel named St. Joseph has an intriguing history with multiple rebuilds and changes in ownership. Built in 1867 by Hitchcock & Gibson in Buffalo, New York, it had an official U.S. number of 23354. The St. Joseph was constructed using wood and had a length of approximately 150.8 feet, a beam of 28 feet, and a depth of 9.3 feet. Its gross tonnage was recorded as 473.93.
Shortly after its construction, the St. Joseph was enrolled in Buffalo, New York, on July 10, 1867. It was later re-enrolled in Grand Haven, Michigan, on September 11, 1867. The vessel initially had one deck and was owned by John T. Edwards & Company in St. Joseph, Michigan. However, ownership changed hands over the years.
In 1869, the Goodrich Transportation Company of Manitowoc, Wisconsin became the new owner of the St. Joseph. The vessel experienced a significant event in 1871 when it sank due to a collision near Fighting Island in the Detroit River, Michigan. Charles A. Chamberlin of Detroit, Michigan, took ownership of the vessel on May 13, 1873.
The St. Joseph underwent various repairs and overhauls throughout its lifetime. It was owned by different individuals and companies, including Frederick G. McDowell of Cleveland, Ohio, and F.W. Gilchrist of Alpena, Michigan. Campbell S. Fisher of Detroit became the owner of the vessel at one point.
In 1880, the St. Joseph was converted into a steam barge and underwent extensive repairs. It changed ownership again and was owned by T.W. Harvey of Chicago, Illinois. Subsequent rebuilds occurred in 1887, 1889, and 1916, with changes in dimensions and tonnage.
The vessel’s history continued with ownership transfers, including Samuel Neff of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and F.W. Wheeler & Company of West Bay City, Michigan. It eventually came under the ownership of the New York, Ontario & Western Railway Company in Oswego, New York, in 1905.
Further modifications were made to the St. Joseph, such as the installation of a new scotch boiler in 1909. The vessel was later owned by the Standard Navigation Company of Buffalo and Frank J. Peterson of Oswego.
In 1916, the St. Joseph’s documents were surrendered, indicating a change of ownership to British individuals. It was re-registered as the propeller Frank B. Stevens under the Canadian number 134517. The American Transit Company of Sarnia, Ontario, became the owner of the vessel.
The Frank B. Stevens, formerly known as the St. Joseph, had dimensions of 146.0 x 29.3 x 11.0 feet and a gross tonnage of 516. It operated under the Canadian flag until it was eventually scrapped around 1922.
The St. Joseph had a long and eventful history, marked by rebuilds, changes in ownership, and alterations to its dimensions. From its enrollment in Buffalo, New York, to its final disposition, the vessel played a role in maritime transportation throughout the Great Lakes region.
