Designed as a schooner with three masts, the Abbie L. Andrews underwent several modifications throughout its operational life. These included housing the topmasts and shortening the jibboom and the fore and main topmasts. These adjustments were likely made to improve the vessel’s handling and performance during its voyages across the Great Lakes.
Throughout its service, the Abbie L. Andrews experienced a number of incidents, including collisions with an elevator and rough encounters on Lake Erie and Lake Superior. These challenges were not uncommon for vessels navigating the often treacherous waters of the Great Lakes during this period.
In 1907, the schooner was sold to Canadian owners, acquiring a new official Canadian number, C122637. It continued to operate under Canadian ownership for the next three decades, maintaining its presence on the Great Lakes.
By 1920, the Abbie L. Andrews had been laid up in the Kingston inner harbor graveyard, marking the beginning of the end for this once-proud vessel. In 1937, the schooner was moved to Cobourg, Ontario, on Lake Ontario, where it was ultimately scrapped in 1938.
External Links:
- Great Lakes Ships
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Bowling Green State University
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Maritime History
- 1906 Report of the Department of Commerce and Labor
The Abbie L. Andrews is a significant part of Great Lakes maritime history, representing the era of schooner sailing ships that played a crucial role in the commerce and transportation across the Great Lakes during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
