SS Chester A. Congdon: Operational History

SS CHESTER A. CONGDON arriving to port.

Great Lakes Maritime Collection, Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library, 221359_221373_F

Operational History

The first owner of Salt Lake City was the company that had it built: the Holmes Steamship Company of Cleveland, Ohio. The Holmes Company operated the boat until 1911, when it was sold to the Acme Transit Company of Ohio, managed by H.B. Hawgood ("Certificate of Enrollment," May 13, 1911).

On February 2, 1912, Salt Lake City ownership was transferred to the Continental Steamship Company of Duluth, G.A. Tomlinson, President. A change of name to Chester A. Congdon was registered by D.W. Stocking, Secretary of the Continental Steamship Company, on April 1, 1912. Chester A. Congdon was a prominent Duluth lawyer and financier who had made a fortune in mining and grain interests.

SS CHESTER A. CONGDON navigating the Great Lakes.

NPS / Pesha Photos

On August 10, 1912, Chester A. Congdon ran aground while waiting for fog to clear. The ship drifted onto a shoal about 4 miles north of Cana Island on Lake Michigan, and damaged several plates (Lake Carriers Association, 1913:18; 1912:9).

Congdon ran aground again in October 1915. The ship was drawing 19 feet 6 inches of water, and it rubbed both bilges hard while going through Grosse Pointe channel during a period of low water. The grounding sheared several rivets, which opened some seams and the vessel began leaking (Bulletin of Lake Carriers Association, Nov. 1915:62; May 1915:18).

Shipwrecks of Isle Royale

Wreck of the SS Chester A Congdon SS Chester A. Congdon Home