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ES Sixty Years Ago Great Lakes news for January, 1908, as reported by THE MARINE REVIEW of 1908 —- Shipbuilding occupied mich of the gossip during the “hot stove" sessions of 1908. You could reflect upon the fact that the U.S. shipyards on the Lakes launched in 1907 a total of 56 vessels --- 40 bulk freighters, 3 package freighters, a pas- senger steamer, a wrecker, a lighter, a mailboat, 5 tugs and 4 scows. In addi- tion, Canadian Lake yards launched two bulk freighters and two car ferries. That year the American Ship Building Co. alone had launched 34 vessels totaling 191,602 tons, far and away the. largest production of any shipyard in the world! In fact, the second most productive yard, William Doxford & Sons of England, had launched only 91,254 tons. On the world's scoreboard for 1907, Great Lakes Engineering's 58,051 tons placed sixth. If one cared to look to the future of Lakes! shipbuilding in January of 1908, the picture was equally bright. A total of 42 vessels were under contract for 1908 delivery —- 26 bulk freighters, two ™ passenger boats, two package freighters, two fireboats, two dredges, a car ferry, a fuel lighter, a lightship, a tug, a sandsucker and three hopper barges. The Marine Review recorded three January launches in 1908. ‘he freighter B. F. BERRY was launched into the Black River from American Ship Building's Lorain yard on Jan. ll. Her owners were the Fremont Steamship Co. of Detroit, an or- ganization headed by H. K. Oakes. She was named for the President of the Wil- lis Creek Coal Co. At American's Wyan- dotte yard the freighter WAINWRIGHT was launched on Jan. 25 by Miss Blanche Giasson who had been selected for the honor by her fellow-seniors at Wyandotte High School. The WAINWRIGHT was built for Edward Mehl of Erie. Four days ear- lier, the package freighter BURLINGTON, built for the Rutland Transit Co., had been launched at Ecorse by Great Lakes Engineering Works. Two of these three are still with us. pw 8. F. BERRY went on to become BERRYTON, then VISCOUNT BENNETT and Late in the 1967 season, now known as C.A. BENNETT, she went down the Seaway with grain fon Contrecoeur, Quebec. WAINWRIGHT sacks -- with 1968 comments by Dave Glick touay in the Cokumbia Fleet as W.C.RICH- ARDSON. The package freighter BURLING- TON went to the Pacific as Alaska Steam- ship Company's JUNEAU about 1916. She netumed to the Lakes in Sublivan's Rut- Land-Lake Michigan Transit Line as BACK BAY about 1921, Eanty in World War II she went to saltwater once more and was scrapped at Providence, R.I., in 1950. In addition to all the construction tak— ing place in Lakes' shipyards in 1908, other interesting things were reported: A novel. and interesting piece of work that attracted attention was the recent transfer through the Wel- land Canal of the big steel freight- ers, KEEWATIN and ASSINIBOIA, built in Scotland for the Great Lakes ser- vice of the Canadian Pacific Rail- road Co. It will be remembered that in order to pass through the locks of the canal it was necessary to separate each of them into two sec- tions at Quebec, so that they might be towed through to Buffalo and there again joined.....At the plant of the Buffalo Dry Dock Co. this latter work was effected. But five and a quarter days were consumed in reuniting the two sections of the KEEWATIN and but six those of the ASSINIBOIA. Extensive repairs to the bottom of the former had to be made, however, owing to the fact that she ran aground on Anticosta Island at the mouth of the St. Law- rence, necessitating the removal of 26 shell plates and almost the en- tire center keelson, the whole being finally completed Dec. 22, she being accordingly the last vessel out of port at Buffalo in 1907....Next sea- son these vessels will be in service between Owen Sound and Port Arthur. They are laid up at Owen Sound. The reuniting, although accomplished with speed, was successful. Their 61st winter on the Lakes finds KEEWATIN Lying at Sagatuck where she is scheduled to open as a floating museum next spring. ASSINIBOIA nan in freight service into December and is now Laid up at Port Mc- Nicole (see Log on page two).