Also known as MARY VIRGINIA PHILLIPS HAROLD B
Buoyed with white boat fender marker buoy only do not moor to the line. Anchor off the site.
The George W. Lormer, a tug (towboat) built in 1880 at Lorain, Ohio, has an interesting history of name changes and ownership. Originally constructed by Henry D. Root, the vessel had a wooden hull and was equipped with two 14 x 16″ engines, producing 425 horsepower. It had dimensions of 59.8 feet in length, 15.7 feet in beam, and 7.7 feet in depth. With a gross tonnage of 32.83 tons and a net tonnage of 16.42 tons, it operated primarily in the Cleveland, Ohio area.
Throughout its existence, the tug underwent several name changes. In 1883, it was renamed the Mary Virginia and continued its service in the Great Lakes region. In 1887, ownership transferred from Robert Greenbargh to B.B. Inman of Duluth, Minnesota. Over the years, the vessel changed hands multiple times, being owned by S. Wayne & Jay Harstey in 1890 and Thompson Towing in 1899.
In 1903, Harold B. Phillips of Sarnia, Ontario became the owner of the tug, and it was re-registered under the Canadian number C96857. Under the name Harold B. Phillips, the vessel had dimensions of 59 x 16 x 8′ and a gross tonnage of 66 tons and a net tonnage of 31 tons.
By 1930, the C.S. Boone Dredge & Construction Co. of Toronto, Ontario had acquired the tug, with its home port in Sarnia. The vessel continued its operations until it was eventually removed from registry in 1933.
The history of the George W. Lormer/Mary Virginia/Harold B. Phillips showcases its long service in the Great Lakes region, operating as a reliable and versatile tug. Throughout the years, it underwent various name changes, reflecting the different owners and periods of its existence. Its contributions to maritime transportation in the area are notable, and its story is a testament to the enduring nature of vessels that ply the Great Lakes waters.
From the 1932 Signal Star
“The tug Phillips, after being stripped of her boilers, engine and all metal trimmings, was sent to the ‘boneyard’ on Tuesday morning. She was beached just below the Sunset Hotel, where the Abercorn, Scobia, Olga, Tecumseth and other vessels have found a last resting place. The Phillips was built in 1882 and last spring, after sinking in the harbor, was raised. Her pilot house was removed and now rests on the north pier.”
