Captain Stephen Kirby purchased a shipyard in Wyandotte in 1872. Around 1877 Some Detroit-based engine and ship building companies reorganized, obtained this operation, and became the Detroit Dry Dock Company. The Wyandott location was closed in 1920 and the yards in Detroit were closed in 1929. [DetroitHistorical] During World War I, the Wyandotte branch constructed almost 100 ships, many of which were outfitted with steam engines from the Detroit shop." [substreet]
Al Miller posted four photos with the comment: "The steamer Calcite was launched March 30, 1912, in Wyandotte, Mich. The 436-foot self-unloader carried stone under the flag of the Calcite Transportation Co., the Bradley Transportation Co., and U.S. Steel Corp. until she was scrapped in 1961. These photos were shot by the Detroit Publishing Co., and are part of the Library of Congress Collection."
[Some comments indicate that 436' was short for its day.]
Richard Jenkins: I’m surprised they launched her with the boom already on her, seems like somebody would have had a Very Bad Day if that thing came loose during the launch!
Ronald L Sutton: The Str Wyandotte, B.1908 paved the way as the First purpose Built self-unloader. my first Thirds Job.
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| LC-D4-22697 [P&P] |
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| LC-D417-957 [P&P] |
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| Association for Great Lakes Maritime History posted A self-unloading conveyor and boom being installed aboard the bulk freighter Calcite, circa 1912 (Image Source: Library of Congress – Detroit Publishing Co. Collection). Based on the vessel’s history (see below), the photograph was taken at the Detroit Shipbuilding Co. in Wyandotte, Mich. After launch, shipyard access to vessels for finishing work consisted of one or more temporary wooden ramps like the one on the right side of the image. Additional Historical Information. Launched in 1912, the bulk self-unloading freighter Calcite (I) was built in Wyandotte, Mich. by the Detroit Shipbuilding Co. for the Calcite Transportation Co. of Detroit, Mich. The 436-foot vessel (LOA) was chartered, after completion, to the Michigan Limestone & Chemical Co. of Rogers City, Mich. At the expiration of the charter, Michigan Limestone & Chemical purchased the ship. In 1924, the Michigan Limestone fleet was renamed the Bradley Transportation Co. The Bradley Transportation fleet, was merged with its corporate parent, the U.S. Steel Corp., in 1951. In 1961, the freighter was sold for scrap and towed to Conneaut, Ohio for dismantling. The ship's pilothouse was removed intact during the process. It was later installed as a tourist attraction in Rogers City, Mich. at a site overlooking the Michigan Limestone & Chemical plant’s loading dock on Lake Huron. Later, the structure was relocated to the grounds of the Rogers City Chamber of Commerce. After years of deterioration, it was moved to 40 Mile Point Lighthouse Park where it continued to deteriorate. In 1996, the 40 Mile Point Lighthouse Society was organized and one of its first volunteer projects was the restoration of the pilothouse. Information Sources: |
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| DPL, cropped, Courtesy of the Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library, DPA3181, From Charles L. Clark Estate Workmen standing on skeleton keel of freighter at Detroit Dry Dock Company's shipyard in Wyandotte, Michigan. Signatures on cross-beam. Handwritten on mat front: "Building a mammoth lake carrier - Detroit Dry Dock. No. 49. -5-" |
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| MaritimeHistoryOfTheGreakLakes The second shipyard of the Detroit Dry Dock Company and Wyandotte MI with a four different hulls, including a sidewheeler, under construction and in front of the yard. Along the Detroit River waterfront is the sidewheel steamboat CITY OF CLEVELAND and a propeller. 1890 |
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| Barry Sell posted November 8, 1912. Wyandotte, Michigan. "Steamer Seeandbee on the ways, broadside." The Great Lakes sidewheeler, built for the Cleveland & Buffalo Transit Co., the day before its launch at the Detroit Ship Building yards. |
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| Lew Morris commented on Barry's post "Seeandbee" went on to make WWII maritime history when she was converted by the U.S. Navy into an aircraft carrier the "USS Wolverine; IX-64". Used for advanced pilot training on Lake Michigan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Wolverine_(IX-64) |
This surprises me because they are "stick building" the ship. I guess all of the shipyards did not switch to modular building to achieve high speed building. Modular building was very hard until CAD (Computer Aided Design) was perfected.
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| Barry Beaubien posted Day 1, the laying of the keel to day 24 launch day of the Liberty ship. Ross Brocksmith: That build speed will always be tough for me to get my head around. Barry Beaubien: The launching of the hull clears the yard to start on another one, the ship is fitted out at another dock. Wyandotte launched hulls that were sometimes towed to open dock spaces elseware. Buddy Luikart: Ross Brocksmith they had a lot of practice with the amount they build..still in awe also... |
(new window) Most new boats of the era were exceeding 600' in length.
3 photos of the Calcite construction and some history of that freighter. A comment links to a 9:25 video.
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