Other Names #
- MARY H. BOYCE U92033
History #
The steambarge MARY H. BOYCE was built in 1888 by Duncan Robertson in Grand Haven, Michigan. It had an official number of 92033 and measured 181.4 feet in length, 34.2 feet in beam, and 14 feet in depth. The vessel had a gross tonnage of 700.83 and a net tonnage of 607.60.
Initially owned by Sherman Hoyt Boyce and others from Grand Haven, Michigan, the MARY H. BOYCE underwent several ownership changes over the years. In 1919, it was sold to Canadian owners and registered under the official number 140994.
The vessel was primarily used for transporting lumber and grain. In 1923, it was converted into a grain lighter. Unfortunately, in 1928, the MARY H. BOYCE was severely damaged by fire in Fort William, Ontario, on Lake Superior. The details of the cargo it may have been carrying at the time of the fire are not specified, nor is there information about any loss of life resulting from the incident.
Two reports suggest different outcomes for the final disposition of the MARY H. BOYCE. One account suggests that the vessel was towed into the lake and scuttled, while another indicates that it was dismantled in 1936. It is possible that both actions were undertaken at different times.
In 1933, the MARY H. BOYCE was scuttled in the Welcome Islands area of Thunder Bay on Lake Superior. Prior to that, the vessel had been removed from the boneyard in Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay).
It’s important to note that the available information is based on historical records, and there may be additional details or variations in the accounts of the vessel’s history and final disposition.
External Links #
- Great Lakes Ships
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Marine Museum of the Great Lakes – Mills List
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
