On the front page of this issue, readers will have seen our annual request for assistance in the preparation of lay-up listings for the various lake and river ports during the coming winter season. To get our members into the proper frame of mind for this assignment, we thought that we would dig up an interesting lay-up report from the past and reprint it here.

As a result, there follows the complete (we believe) lay-up list for the port of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the winter of 1897-98. We thought that this list was particularly interesting, and so we have added to the bare bones of the report a few details concerning each ship, such as the type of construction, dimensions, gross tonnage, and year and place of building. The vessels are divided into three groups, namely steamers, schooners and tow-barges, even though the distinction between the latter two groups may have been a bit fuzzy at times. The divisions are those of the original report, which appeared at the time in "The Marine Record".

Members reading this listing might try to locate the name of the single vessel mentioned therein that is still active on the Great Lakes, albeit not in the same form as that which she sported back in 1897. And now, read on and dream of days gone by...

Steamers:

ARCADIA, wood, 118.8 x 26.2 x 9.1, 230.29 Gross, 1888 Milwaukee, Wisconsin. PHILIP D. ARMOUR, wood, 264.0 x 40.6 x 21.0, 1990.94 Gross, 1889 Detroit. AURORA, wood, 290.0 x 41.0 x 22.4, 2282.24 Gross, 1887 Cleveland, Ohio. BLOOMER GIRL, wood, 109.2 x 21.9 x 8.3, 95.43 Gross, 1894 Ludington, Mich. FAYETTE BROWN, composite, 252.6 x 40.3 x 18.6, 2080.92 Gross, 1887 Wyandotte. GEORGE BURNHAM, wood, 149.0 x 29.0 x 10.1, 332.78 Gross, 1880 Green Bay, Wis. COLIN CAMPBELL, wood, 158.7 x 30.2 x 11.4, 373.23 Gross, 1869 Gibraltar, Mich. W. J. CARTER, wood, 122.0 x 28.0 x 9.6, 235.13 Gross, 1886 Milwaukee. CHEROKEE, wood, 208.7 x 35.7 x 22.1, 1304.62 Gross, 1889 Marine City, Mich. WILLIAM CHISHOLM, iron, 246.6 x 36.9 x 19.4, 1581.08 Gross, 1884 Cleveland. CITY OF CLEVELAND, wood, 255.7 x 39.5 x 18.4, 1609.92 Gross, 1882 Cleveland. CITY OF GENOA, wood, 301.0 x 42.5 x 20.1, 2109.90 Gross, 1892 West Bay City. CITY OF GLASGOW, wood, 297.0 x 41.0 x 20.5, 2002.86 Gross, 1891 West Bay City. CITY OF PARIS, wood, 298.0 x 41.0 x 21.0, 2062.55 Gross, 1891 West Bay City. CITY OF VENICE, wood, 301.0 x 42.5 x 20.1, 2107.92 Gross, 1892 West Bay City. COLONIAL, wood, 244.5 x 36.3 x 19.2, 1501.57 Gross, 1882 Cleveland. THOMAS CRANAGE, wood, 305.0 x 43.0 x 20.7, 2219.52 Gross, 1893 West Bay City. J. H. DEVEREAUX, iron, 243.3 x 37.0 x 19.4, 1618.63 Gross, 1885 Cleveland. JOHN DUNCAN, wood, 225.2 x 37.8 x 16.7, 1267.81 Gross, 1891 Green Bay. GEORGE H. DYER, wood, 208.0 x 35.1 x 21.6, 1372.18 Gross, 1888 Milwaukee. OSCAR T. FLINT, wood, 218.0 x 37.0 x 22.0, 1126.85 Gross, 1889 St. Clair. R. P. FLOWER, wood, 53.2 x 9.6 x 3.4, 14.60 Gross, 1881 Watertown, New York. A. FOLSOM, wood, 180.3 x 33.0 x 21.0, 940.94 Gross, 1885 West Bay City. THOMAS FRIANT, wood, 96.0 x 18.3 x 7.8, 81.42 Gross, 1884 Grand Haven, Mich. GOGEBIC, wood, 227.2 x 40.4 x 19.5, 1680.71 Gross, 1887 West Bay City. WALTER Q. GRESHAM - United States Revenue Cutter.

JOHN HARPER, wood, 298.0 x 40.0 x 20.8, 1951.90 Gross, 189O West Bay City. C. HICKOX, wood, 130.7 x 24.8 x 9.0, 208.38 Gross, 1873 Black River, Ohio. HILTON, wood, 110.0 x 26.4 x 7.4, 166.28 Gross, 1867 East Saginaw, Michigan. A. L. HOPKINS, wood, 170.8 x 32.4 x 12.2, 756.86 Gross, 1880 Marine City. IOSCO, wood, 291.0 x 41.0 x 19.8, 2051.82 Gross, 1891 West Bay City, Mich. JOYS, wood, 131.0 x 28.2 x 9.9, 268.07 Gross, 1884 Milwaukee. V. H. KETCHAM, wood, 233.0 x 40.7 x 23.1, 1660.49 Gross, 1874 Marine City. MAJESTIC, wood, 291.0 x 40.0 x 21.1, 1985.82 Gross, 1889 West Bay City. MANHATTAN, wood, 252.4 x 38.0 x 19.4, 1545.70 Gross, 1887 Detroit. MARION, wood, 217.1 x 34.7 x 19.9, 1206.47 Gross, 1889 Sheboygan, Wisconsin. GEO. C. MARKHAM, wood, 141.4 x 28.2 x 10.5, 309.23 Gross, 1883 Milwaukee. MARYLAND, steel, 316.4 x 42.0 x 20.4, 2419.04 Gross, 1890 Wyandotte. MASSACHUSETTS, wood, 235.0 x 37.2 x 18.6, 1415.45 Gross, 1882 Detroit. MARY A. McGREGOR, wood, 179.2 x 33.1 x 14.8, 711.39 Gross, 1889 Grand Haven. MERRIMAC, wood, 235.3 x 37.2 x 18.7, 1398.67 Gross, 1882 Detroit. MINNEAPOLIS, steel, 238.0 x 42.7 x 22.2, 2029 Gross, 1897 South Chicago. MINNESOTA, wood, 206.9 x 36.8 x 18.5, 1138.03 Gross, 1880 Milwaukee. SAMUEL MITCHELL, steel, 292.8 x 40.4 x 20.1, 2277.60 Gross, 1892 Cleveland. NEOSHO, wood, 266.0 x 41.0 x 21.0, 1982.98 Gross, 1888 Cleveland. ALEX. NIMICK, wood, 298.4 x 40.0 x 21.0, 1968.83 Gross, 189O West Bay City. NYANZA, wood, 280.0 x 41.4 x 20.3, 1888.62 Gross, 189O West Bay City. FRED PABST, wood, 287.3 x 42.6 x 24.0, 2430.78 Gross, 1890 Milwaukee. CHAS. STEWART PARNELL, wood, 256.4 x 38.5 x 19.8, 1739.96 Gross, 1888 Detroit. PASCAL P. PRATT, wood, 272.4 x 40.5 x 21.5, 1927.30 Gross, 1888 Cleveland. RALEIGH, wood, 227.3 x 34.0 x 15.0, 1205.93 Gross, 1871 Cleveland. GEORGE W. ROBY, wood, 281.0 x 41.4 x 20.0, 1843.23 Gross, 1889 West Bay City. H. A. ROOT, wood, 114.0 x 24.6 x 9.2, 198.12 Gross, 1886 Saugatuck, Mich. FERDINAND SCHLESINGER, wood, 305.7 x 43.4 x 20.7, 2607.70 Gross, 1891 Milwaukee.

JOHN SCHROEDER, wood, 154.8 x 29.8 x 11.8, 372.50 Gross, 1890 Sheboygan. JIM SHERIFFS, wood, 182.8 x 32.0 x 15.0, 634 Gross, 1883 Milwaukee. ADELLA SHORES, wood, 195.2 x 34.9 x 11.4, 734.38 Gross, 1894 Gibraltar. E. A. SHORES JR., wood, 176.0 x 34.2 x 10.2, 519.67 Gross, 1892 Sheboygan. SPECULAR, wood, 263.7 x 34.8 x 20.1, 1741.33 Gross, 1882 Cleveland. CHARLES A. STREET, wood, 165.3 x 31.4 x 12.0, 512.37 Gross , 1888 Grand Haven. EMMA E. THOMPSON, wood, 125.0 x 27.0 x 12.0, 276 Gross, 1875 Saginaw. EDWIN S. TICE, wood, 159.9 x 32.1 x 12.5, 728.83 Gross, 1887 Manitowoc. WALTER VAIL, wood, 200.0 x 35.0 x 13.3, 726.33 Gross, 1890 West Bay City. FRANK L. VANCE, wood, 257.6 x 39.5 x 20.2, 1731.38 Gross, 1887 Cleveland. VENEZUELA, wood, 263.0 x 43.0 x 23.0, 2125 Gross, 1896 West Bay City. VERONICA, wood, 202.0 x 34.8 x 18.0, 1093.02 Gross, 1886 Milwaukee. L. C. WALDO, steel, 387.3 x 48.0 x 23.8, 4244.26 Gross, 1896 West Bay City. WILLIAM H. WOLF, wood, 285.0 x 42.3 x 19.2, 2265.75 Gross, 1887 Milwaukee.

Schooners:

A.B.C.F.M., wood, 109.9 x 23.9 x 7.0, 143.72 Gross, 1854 Milwaukee. WILLIAM ALDRICH, wood, 120.0 x 26.0 x 7.9, 191.89 Gross, 1856 Two Rivers, Wis.

D. S. AUSTIN, wood, 135.2 x 26.0 x 13.0, 281.87 Gross, 1872 Toledo, Ohio. BARBARIAN, wood, 136.1 x 25.8 x 10.8, 297.58 Gross, 1855 Oswego, New York. BURT BARNES, wood, 95.5 x 24.5 x 7.3, 134.06 Gross, 1882 Manitowoc.

JOHN C. BAUER, wood, 117.0 x 25.0 x 7.0, 158.56 Gross, 1855 Black River, Ohio. BLACK HAWK, wood, 122.0 x 24.0 x 8.1, 172.31 Gross, 1861 East Saginaw. BOAZ, wood, 114.0 x 22.0 x 7.1, 127.22 Gross, 1869 Sheboygan. L. B. COATES, wood, 116.1 x 25.5 x 8.1, 189.12 Gross, 1874 Saugatuck. MARY ELLEN COOK, wood, 118.0 x 25.0 x 7.0, 132 Gross, 1875 Grand Haven. ANNIE DALL, wood, 110.9 x 24.6 x 7.7, 149.53 Gross, 1883 Chicago, Illinois. EBENEZER, wood, 103.3 x 24.1 x 9.6, 157.96 Gross, 1847 Buffalo, New York. ELIDA, wood, 111.7 x 24.4 x 9.9, 192.12 Gross, 1863 Milwaukee. EMILY AND ELIZA, wood, 78.0 x 21.0 x 5.0, 63.60 Gross, 1874 Oak Harbor, Ohio. FEARLESS, wood, 120.0 x 24.0 x 8.0, 165.12 Gross, 1867 Ferrysburg, Mich. GRAHAM BROTHERS, wood, 81.0 x 20.0 x 7.0, 81.99 Gross, 1874 Howard, Wis. MARY A. GREGORY, wood, 84.6 x 23.8 x 6.6, 87.50 Gross, 1875 Chicago. ANNA 0. HANSON, wood, 113.0 x 26.0 x 9.7, 185.82 Gross, 1869 DePere, Wis. C. HARRISON, wood, 93.9 x 23.9 x 8.1, 137.24 Gross, 1854 Milwaukee. THOMAS H. HOWLAND, wood, 138.8 x 26.2 x 11.1, 298.73 Gross, 1872 Manitowoc. KEWAUNEE, wood, 123.8 x 27.4 x 8.3, 210.95 Gross, 1866 Port Huron, Mich. LA PETITE, wood, 119.0 x 23.7 x 8.3, 172.05 Gross, 1866 Huron, Ohio. LEO, wood, 81.0 x 22.0 x 7.0, 94.43 Gross, 1866 Sheboygan.

WILLIE LOUTIT, wood, 116.5 x 25.0 x 8.1, 181.75 Gross, 1873 Eastmanville, Mich. CHARLES LULING, wood, 123.0 x 25.6 x 9.6, 195.05 Gross, 1873 Manitowoc. DAN MABEE, wood, 122.0 x 27.0 x 7.0, 193.97 Gross, 1866 Nashota, Wis. L. M. MASON, wood, 120.4 x 26.5 x 9.5, 249.73 Gross, 1866 Algonac, Mich. MINNEHAHA, wood, 71.2 x 18.4 x 6.6, 59.37 Gross, 1872 Manitowoc. MINNEHAHA, wood, 75.0 x 19.8 x 6.8, 74.79 Gross, 1877 Cheboygan, Mich. MONITOR, wood, 138.2 x 28.7 x 10.3, 307.95 Gross, 1862 Sheboygan, Wis. MORNING STAR, wood, 118.0 x 26.5 x 8.9, 205.43 Gross, 1868 Sheboygan. ONEIDA, wood, 134.1 x 24.3 x 9.2, 201.00 Gross, 1857 Ashtabula, Ohio. PRIDE, wood, 87.0 x 20.6 x 6.7, 83.04 Gross, 1849 Sandusky, Ohio.

E. SCOVILLE, wood, 90.0 x 24.0 x 8.0, 102.20 Gross, 1861 Huron, Ohio. SEAMAN, wood, 120.0 x 25.6 x 8.7, 181.99 Gross, 1848 Cleveland.

S. THAL, wood, 75.2 x 20.4 x 4.8, 55.42 Gross, 1867 Oshkosh, Wisconsin. VERMONT, wood, 87.2 x 20.5 x 6.9, 81.46 Gross, 1853 Huron, Ohio. WALHALLA, wood, 97.5 x 23.0 x 8.4, 114.83 Gross, 1867 DePere, Wisconsin. CHARLES E. WYMAN, wood, 132.4 x 29.2 x 8.7, 234.50 Gross, 1882 Grand Haven,

Tow-Barges:

AMBOY, wood, 209.3 x 34.2 x 14.4, 893.97 Gross, 1874 Cleveland.

ANTRIM, steel, 366.0 x 44.0 x 22.2, 3200 Gross, 1897 Cleveland.

ANNIE M. ASH, wood, 242.4 x 38.0 x 16.4, 1258.62 Gross, 1888 Cleveland.

BALTIC, wood, 202.0 x 34.7 x 16.6, 915.62 Gross, 1890 West Bay City.

WILLIAM D. BECKER, wood, 211.0 x 35.0 x 16.6, 1046.85 Gross, 1892 W. Bay City.

CHIPPEWA, wood, 220.0 x 36.2 x 22.0, 1290.55 Gross, 1890 Marine City.

D. P. DOBBINS, wood, 162.3 x 31.6 x 12.2, 447.61 Gross, 1863 Cleveland.

JEREMIAH GODFREY, wood, 177.0 x 34.9 x 14.0, 653.22 Gross, 1881 Port Huron.

GRACE GRUMMOND, iron, 136.6 x 21.8 x 9.0, 205.50 Gross, 1869 New York City.

R. HALLARAN, wood, 189.1 x 36.6 x 16.0, 698 Gross, 1880 Toledo.

EDWARD KELLEY, wood, 187.0 x 35.0 x 14.0, 776.43 Gross, 1874 Port Huron.

J. B. LOZEN, wood, 17800 x 32.6 x 12 .4, 565.01 Gross, 1890 Mount Clemens, Mich.

MAGNETIC, wood, 264.1 x 38.4 x 19.9. 1676.22 Gross, 1882 Cleveland.

METACOMET, wood, 176.0 x 34.1 x 17.6, 852.95 Gross, 1880 Detroit.

MARY B. MITCHELL, wood, 211.7 x 37.5 x 15.0, 963.36 Gross, 1888 West Bay City.

SIDNEY O. NEFF, wood, 149.6 x 30.2 x 10.4, 346.62 Gross, 1890 Manitowoc.

NELSON, wood, 163.5 x 32.2 x 12.1, 766067 Gross, 1866 Manitowoc.

POLYNESIA, steel, 375.0 x 46.0 x 26.7, 3562 Gross, 1897 Cleveland.

RED WING, wood, 192.7 x 33.9 x 14.0, 722.78 Gross, 1873 Tonawanda, New York.

SAN DIEGO, wood, 206.0 x 35.7 x 13.6, 809.28 Gross, 1874 Detroit.

TYRONE, steel, 300.8 x 41.0 x 21.6, 2117.72 Gross, 1895 Cleveland.

In all, a total of 68 steamers, 39 schooners and 21 tow-barges (many of the latter being cut-down schooners) were laid up at Milwaukee during the winter of 1897-98. The list is all the more interesting in that a good many of the ships that are included have been mentioned in these pages on previous occasions, and probably will be again in the future. Milwaukee certainly played host to an amazing fleet that winter, and the port must have been quite a sight with so many vessels moored there. Don't you wish you had been there with a good camera handy?

And now, how many of you were able to spot the one vessel that is still active on the lakes? She is, of course, the steel steamer SAMUEL MITCHELL, which later became the first self-unloading bulk cement carrier on the lakes, and served the Huron Cement fleet for many years. She is known today as the barge MEL WILLIAM SELVICK, which is owned by the Dundee Cement Company, of Dundee, Michigan. Because of the depressed economic conditions which have hit the construction industry particularly hard, the SELVICK did not run in 1983, but there is every reason to believe that she will be active again in future years, despite her advanced age.

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Reproduced for the Web with the permission of the Toronto Marine Historical Society.