Other Names
- MARY H. BOYCE x U92033
- Wooden Propeller
- 181ft 60m Length
- Unknown
- Fort William, Lake Superior
The MARY H. BOYCE was initially owned by Sherman H. Boyce and others from Grand Haven, Michigan, when it was built in 1888. In April 1891, the vessel underwent a rebuild in Saginaw, resulting in a two-deck structure with three masts. Its dimensions were recorded as 181.4 feet in length, 34.2 feet in width, and 14 feet in depth. The gross tonnage increased to 932.33 tons.
In 1896, the MARY H. BOYCE was reboilered with a scotch boiler measuring 13 feet 6 inches by 13 feet 6 inches and producing 140 pounds of steam. The new boiler was constructed by Wickes Brothers in Saginaw, Michigan.
The ship encountered a mishap on April 18, 1899, when it went ashore in Grand Haven, Michigan. Ownership of the vessel changed in February 1902, transferring to F.W. Smith and others from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A rebuild took place on April 11, 1902, during which the span deck was removed, and the ship was equipped with two masts. The dimensions remained the same.
In August 1912, the MARY H. BOYCE came under the ownership of the American Ship Building Company in Cleveland, Ohio. The vessel changed hands again in March 1916, being owned by Peterson & Collings in Oswego, New York, followed by Robert McCormick in Chicago, Illinois, in April 1917.
The ship was eventually sold to the Ontario Transportation Company in Thorold, Ontario, and was rebuilt in 1918 with two decks. The dimensions were adjusted to 181 feet in length, 34 feet in width, and 13.7 feet in depth, resulting in a gross tonnage of 863 tons.
Ownership shifted to N.M. Paterson & Co. Ltd. in Fort William, Ontario, in March 1922. The vessel underwent further modifications to serve as a grain transfer vessel for Fort William and Port Arthur, Ontario. Unfortunately, the ship was damaged by fire in Fort William in 1928 and was subsequently towed to a boneyard, where it was abandoned.
In 1933, the MARY H. BOYCE was scuttled as part of a government contract. The details provided here encompass the vessel’s historical timeline and notable events, including ownership changes and rebuilds, as available from the sources consulted.
