SS Glenlyon: Operational History

SS William H. Gratwick navigating through a harbor with crew looking out from deck.

Great Lakes Maritime Collection, Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library, 65339_65366_F

Operational History

A change of ownership is recorded for Gratwick in 1899. In October, the documents list the new owner as the Drake-Maythem Steamship Company of Mentor, Ohio (Duluth News Tribune, Sept. 16, 1899; "Doc, of Enrollment," Oct. 16, 1899, Cleveland). This company retained ownership until 1902 when the ship was sold to the United States Transportation Company of Syracuse, New York ("Doc, of Enrollment," Oct. 14, 1902, Oswego).

Gratwick was sold again in 1907 when the Prindville Transportation Company of Michigan City, Indiana became the owner ("Doc, of Enrollment," Nov. 29, 1907, Chicago). While owned by the Michigan City firm, Gratwick was chartered by the Graham and Morton Transportation Company of St. Joseph, Michigan. The G&M Line operated ships in the fruit and passenger service from lower Michigan ports to Chicago but ran to Lake Superior ports for a few seasons (Detroit Marine Historian, 1951, Vol. 4, No. 10:3). If Gratwick carried the G&M colors at this time, she had a dark green hull and a black stack during this period.

Later view of package freighter GLENLYON. Notice freight elevators and gangway hatch cranes.

Lake Superior Marine Museum

The Chicago and Duluth Transportation Company of Michigan City purchased Gratwick in 1910 ("Doc, of Enrollment," April 8, 1910, Chicago). While owned by this company, Gratwick was noted for receiving the first load of iron ore taken from the Cuyuna Range in Minnesota.

In August 1911, the company changed Gratwick's name to Minnekahta ("Doc, of Enrollment," Aug. 23, 1911, Chicago). Apparently, the company converted both Minnekahta and Minnetonka, ex-Alva, into passenger/package boats (Lake Carrier's Association, 1924:119).

A "Coasting and Foreign Trade" document was issued in Chicago for the vessel in February, 1913. Minnekahta was sold to the Lake Michigan Steamship Company of Gary, Indiana in September 1913 ("Doc, of Enrollment," Sept. 23, 1913). This company owned Minnekahta for less than a year before reselling it. The ship's documents were surrendered in April 1914 when she was "sold foreign" to the Great Lakes Transportation Company, Ltd. of Midland, Ontario, who returned the ship to the grain and coal trades. Minnekahta received Canadian registry number 126660.

SS GLENLYON with crew posing for photograph on stern.

Isle Royale National Park Archives

Four years later, the ship was overhauled at the Midland Shipbuilding Company, and renamed Glenlyon. Among the alterations were a steel deck house with accommodations for the master and mate added forward, another steel deck house built aft, and some minor repairs were made to the hull (Canadian Railway and Marine World, 1918:126). At this time the ship had a light blue-gray hull, white cabins and a rose-red stack with a black top (Williams, 1956:255). At the time, Glenlyon was one of a dozen vessels owned by this company, all the names of which began with "Glen." (e.g. Glenfinnan; Glenledie).

Glenlyon was slightly damaged in an incident that occurred in August of 1920. While entering Sarnia, Glenlyon was diverted from its course by the schooner Hattie Hutt and a sand sucker working at the port. Glenlyon lost steerage and struck the Grand Trunk Railway freight sheds causing $5,000 worth of damage (Canadian Railway and Marine World, 1920:463).

Shipwrecks of Isle Royale

Wreck of the SS Glenlyon SS Glenlyon Home