Lewis G. Harriman

History

This historic steamer was built by the Toledo Shipbuilding Company in 1923, and was the first purpose-built cement carrier on the Great Lakes. Originally named the John W. Boardman, she spent her entire active career as a member of the venerable Huron Cement fleet, carrying dry bulk cement from the Alpena, Michigan plant of the Huron Portland Cement Company to their distribution terminals around the Lakes. A small freighter even by 1923 standards, she measures 350 feet in overall length, 55 feet in beam, by 28 feet in depth. Power was provided by a triple-expansion steam engine and coal-fired boilers.

The Boardman was renamed Lewis G. Harriman in 1965. By that time she was one of the smallest vessels in the Huron fleet, and was soon relegated to spare boat status. During 1967-68 she was used as a cement storage barge during the construction of the Poe Lock at Sault Ste. Marie. However, she returned to active service during the 1970's, and was converted from coal to oil-firing in 1978. In 1980 she sailed for the final time as an active steamer, and spent the rest of the decade in layup.

In 1991 the Alpena, formerly U.S. Steel "Super" class steamer Leon Fraser joined the fleet, which by then had become Inland Lakes Transportation following the sale of Huron Cement to the LaFarge Corporation in 1988. Shortened by 120 feet during her conversion, the 519-foot Alpena was still too large to wind her way to the former Huron Cement dock up the river in Milwaukee. A solution was found in the old Lewis G. Harriman, and she was put to use shuttling cargoes to the upriver dock from her larger fleetmates, which offloaded into her in the outer harbor. For this service, the Harriman was converted to a barge with the addition of an "external notch" on her stern, allowing her to be pushed by a tug, but she was otherwise left intact so that she could be used as a steamer again if the need arose. She performed this duty for several years until a new dock was built in the outer harbor, making the Harriman excess capacity once again. It was ironic that the closing of the old Milwaukee Huron Cement dock also marked the end of the Harriman's career with the former Huron Cement fleet; the dock had opened in November of 1923, and the first cargo it received was also the first cargo ever carried by the then-new John W. Boardman.

At this point Inland Lakes decided that they had no further use for the vessel, and in 1996 she was sold to St. Mary's Cement for use as a storage barge at their dock in Green Bay. By 2000, however, the Harriman was no longer needed even for storage, and she spent the next several years rusting away in Green Bay.

In 2003, it appears that the end may be near for the 80-year-old Harriman, as she has joined the sad parade of classic lakers heading for scrap this year. Although the Northeastern Maritime Historical Foundation made an eleventh-hour attempt to persuade owners St. Mary's Cement to donate the vessel, she was sold instead to Purvis Marine Ltd. for scrapping at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The Lewis G. Harriman departed Green Bay in tow of the tug Avenger IV on October 25, 2003, bound for the Soo to take her place in line behind the Canadian motor vessel Quedoc, which is currently undergoing demolition there. Reports indicate that it may be up to 10 months before scrapping of the Harriman will commence, but Purvis crews may begin stripping her historic interiors earlier than that if the weather gets too cold for steel cutting on the Quedoc.

Her Future

The Lewis G. Harriman is unique not only as the first ship of her type ever built, but also one of the last pre-World War II lakers to survive in largely original configuration. Apart from the name change and the conversion to oil firing, she is very much original from 1923, unlike the handful of other surviving boats of her era which have been heavily modified over the years. As such, she is an ideal candidate for preservation.

While the last few years of storage use and inactivity have left her looking rather rough on the outside, the Harriman's hull and machinery are still sound and contrary to rumors, she is surprisingly intact inside, including her original triple-expansion ”up-and-down” steam engine.

The sale of the Lewis G. Harriman for scrap has come as a blow to the Northeastern Maritime Historical Foundation, but we remain committed to preserving this historic steamship, and are currently considering further options, including a possible offer to puchase the vessel from Purvis. If we are successful in acquiring her, she will be restored to her former glory, offering visitors a rare glimpse into the history of Great Lakes Shipping. We envision her as a centerpiece, and one of several commercial vessels, in a new Maritime Heritage Park in a yet-to-be-announced port on the Great Lakes. Funding for her restoration has already been arranged, and will become available in the spring of 2004. Meanwhile, the Foundation is seeking donations to raise the funds needed to purchase the vessel from the scrapper, as she may be irreparably damaged if we do not move quickly to save her. Other items such as paint and painting supplies, cleaning supplies, etc are welcomed as well. Your contributions are tax-deductible, and may be sent to the Northeastern Maritime Historical Foundation at P.O. Box 16687, Duluth, Minnesota 55816-0687, or you may give online through our Donations page.

Click Here to take a virtual tour of the Lewis G. Harriman at her layup berth in Green Bay.