|
The ''Steamship J. B. Ford'' was launched in Lorain, Ohio on December 12, 1903 as the ''Edwin F. Holmes'' and is currently the oldest intact lake freighter still afloat on the Great Lakes. Although the Ford has not seen powered service since November 15, 1985, it served as a stationary cement storage and transfer vessel in South Chicago, from 1987 until 2001, when the vessel was towed to Superior, Wisconsin to serve in the same capacity. The ''Ford'' continued in this duty until 2006 when the JAW Iglehart, former fleet mate of the ''Ford'' was retired from service and took over the Ford's duties in Superior. The Ford was moved to a storage dock out of the way where it was originally intended to scrap the vessel. However, after the ''E. M. Ford'' went to the scrapyard in 2008, interest in preserving the ''J. B. Ford'' was sparked in the realization that the then 104-year-old vessel could be next. In 2010 the Great Lakes Steamship Society was formed (and soon thereafter incorporated) with the intention of acquiring and preserving items of maritime heritage on the Great Lakes, with their first goal the preservation of the ''J. B. Ford''. They achieved 501c3 non profit status in 2011 and worked to save the vessel until July of 2014. Since their efforts began in 2010, the vessels owners had deferred scrapping the vessel to allow the group a reasonable amount of time to get organized and put a real effort forward to preserve the ''Ford''. The effort failed due to increasing cost to stabilize and preserve the vessel, combined with a loss of interest in preserving it. As of July 2014, the GLSS was still working with the vessel's owners to recover artifacts and significant items from the vessel, particularly the forward cabins. ==Notable events== *''December 12, 1903'': Launched in Lorain, Ohio by American Shipbuilding Company as the ''Edwin F. Holmes'' *''January 22, 1904'' : Work on fitting out the new vessel was delayed by major flooding on the Black River; the ''Holmes'' broke loose from her moorings in the current, and was pushed into the opposite bank. She was not freed until February 5, 1904 when she was returned to the fit-out dock and work continued. *''November 27-December 1, 1905'' : While upbound in Lake Huron with a load of coal for Duluth, MN a tremendous storm hit the region. The ''Holmes'' made it safely to the Soo Locks but she continued on, not knowing the full intensity of the storm. The ''Holmes'' was reported overdue on November 30, 1905. Although her identical sister ship, the Umbria, sustained heavy damage to her forward cabins and navigation centre (requiring the crew to steer the vessel from the emergency steering station at the stern of the vessel as it limped into Duluth), the ''Holmes'' arrived undamaged in Duluth, MN on December 1st, sailing into the Duluth piers past the broken and battered wreck of the Pittsburgh Steamship Companies' ''SS Mataafa'' which had been wrecked trying to enter the piers. She had grounded and broken her back on the beach just a few yards from the shore. Nine crew-members of the ''Mataafa'' perished in the wreck, giving history the name ''Mataafa Storm''.〔http://www.jbford.org/storms〕 *''November 6-11, 1913'' : Two powerful storm fronts collided over the region creating a massive storm system. Powering through the first part of the storm the ''Holmes'' reached safety of the Locks. A day-long lull in the storm tricked many seasoned mariners into thinking the storm was over, and after venturing out into Lake Huron, weather conditions deteriorated to the worst on record, and the storm ended up causing massive losses. Twelve vessels sank with no survivors, 32 vessels were blown ashore around the region, and seven of these were completely destroyed. On the lakes 235 sailors lost their lives, with at least 36 more killed on land, making this the worst storm ever to hit the region. To date no storm has equalled the ''Great White Hurricane'' of 1913, in terms of either lake weather conditions, or loss of life and property.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「J. B. Ford」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|