Great Western (Steamer, 1838)

Description

Identification

Construction and Ownership

Built at:: Huron, Ohio
Vessel Type:: Steamer
Hull Materials:: Wood
Bow Type:: Figure Head
Builder Name:: Benjamin S. Goodsell*
Ownership Notes:: Walker, Augustus, (1838-1855); Western Transportation Company, (1843); Morehead, Robinson, (1843); Stebbins, J., (1843);
Dayton, Gaius, (1843); Bancroft, E. E., (1843); Hill, D., (1843); Hill, A., (1843); Smith, Charles, (1843); Smith, David, (1843); Taylor, J. W., (1843); Andrews, A. W., (1843); Seymour, Jack, (1843); Ellis, J., (1843); Wilbor, John B., (1843); Fairchild, Daniel, (1843); Harding, Francis, (1843); Ford, John, (1843); Swain, Victor, (1843); Ramsdell, D., (1843); Parsons, Peter L., (1843); Efner, Howard E., (1843); Runsey, Aaron, (1843); Bonny, Daniel, (1843); White, Reuben T., (1843); Hurmon,, (1843); Spencer, James, (1843); Pease, John, (1843); Sloan, Daniel, (1843); Evans, James, (1843); Pierce, Lewiston, (1843); Meites, Reuben, (1843); Matson, W. B., (1843); Ryuan, Charles, (1843); Dickson, John E., (1843); Doty, P. O., (1843); Jenkins, Henry W., (1843); Galviston, G. W., (1843); Stillman, Wimarson, (1843); Murray, J., (1843); Gillson, Flagg, (1843); Fairchild, David, (1843); Seymore, Joel, (1843); Beam, Calvin, (1843); Parsons, E. D., (1843); Whittaker, Chancy H., (1849); Kelly, J., (1850); Fox Watson, A., (1851); Smith, H. P., (1852); Stevens, R. H., (1852);
Master(s):: Walker, Augustus, (1838-1845); Bloomfield, N. H., (1852);

Power

Hull Dimensions

Tonnage

Enrollments/Registration

May 5, 1839: Port: Sandusky Number: 6 of 1839
Document Type: Enrollment
Reason: New Vessel
Next document: Buffalo 5-10-1843
May 10, 1843: Port: Buffalo Number: 3 of 1843
Document Type: Enrollment
Reason: Changed Owner
Next document: Buffalo 5-24-1843
View document online
May 24, 1843: Port: Buffalo Number: 12 of 1843
Document Type: Enrollment
Reason: Changed Owner
Next document: Buffalo 4-21-1849
View document online
April 21, 1849: Port: Buffalo Number: 32 of 1849
Document Type: Enrollment
Reason: Changed Owner
Next document: Cleveland 9-7-1850
View document online
September 7, 1850: Port: Cleveland Number: 54 of 1850
Document Type: Enrollment
Reason: Changed Owner
Next document: Buffalo 5-23-1851
May 23, 1851: Port: Buffalo Number: 45 of 1851
Document Type: Enrollment
Reason: Changed Owner
Next document: Buffalo 5-27-1852
View document online
May 27, 1852: Port: Buffalo Number: 82 of 1852
Document Type: Enrollment
Reason: Changed Owner
View document online; Next document: (Vessse; Abandoned,1855)

History

Classification:: a. Steamer, Great Western (1838-1855)
Nationality:: American (1838-1855)
Chronology:: 1. 9/1/1839, Detroit, caught on fire, burned and was towed to Huron, Ohio; repaired, $25, 000 loss;
2. 6/22/1840, Conneaut, Lake Erie, collision, (sank Schooner, Commercial), repaired;
3. 8/4/1840, Detroit River, Steamer, Great Western towed the disabled Steamer, Erie, to Detroit;
4. 10/25/1840, St. Clair Flats, ashore and released;
5. 6/15/1845, Point Wabashanks, second mate lost overboard while heaving the lead;
6. 9/23/1845, Milwaukee, sprang a leak, sank and raised $300 loss;
7. 5/5/1847, Great Western seized for violating Revenue Laws 3 years ago;
8. 7/29/1852, Lake Erie, collision, (Schooner, J. W. Brown), repaired;

Notes

General notes:: *Wright has her being built by "Fairbans Church";
**She had one deck in 1852;
***She had one mast in 1852;
Machinery: high pressure horizontal engine built at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Cylinder, 30" diameter x 10' stroke; she had 7 boilers; Wheels,27' diameter, with paddle wheels having a 13'6" x 12' wide radius;
She was the first steamer on the upper lakes to have an upper deck for passenger accommodations;
In 1855, she was dismantled and scrapped at Tonawanda, New York;
She was abandoned in 1855;
Sources:: 1. Rept. No. 741: p. 158;
2. Master Abstracts: Buffalo, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; Sandusky, Ohio;
3. Enrollment: Buffalo, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; Sandusky, Ohio;
4. John Poole's notes;
5. Early American Steamers, Vol. II;
6. House Report 741, p. 159;
7. Cleveland Plain Dealer: 3/31/1847;
8. J. H. Beers, History of the Great Lakes, Vol. I, p. 633;
9. Merchant Steam Vessels of the United States, 1790-1868; (The Lytle-Holdcamper List);
10. Wright's Master Sheet;

Contact

Wisconsin Maritime Museum

Email:[email protected]
Website:

Agency street/mail address:

75 Maritime Dr.
Manitowoc, WI,54220
920-684-0218