Amasa Stone 1905 - 1965

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Built by Detroit Ship Building Co. (owned by American Ship Building Co.) in Wyandotte, MI, as hull # 158. Launched as AMASA STONE for the Mesaba Steamship Co. (managed by Pickands Mather Co.) of Cleveland, OH on March 25, 1905. Began service in May 1905. Dimensions: 545' 00" loa x ' 55' 00" beam x 30' 00" depth, 6,282 GRT, 4,930 NRT. Cargo capacity 10,000 tons. Power: single triple expansion steam engine for a total of 1,600 ihp.

In 1913 the AMASA STONE merged with the Interlake Steamship Co. fleet (managed by Pickands Mather Co.). On the night of October 22, 1929 the AMASA STONE was caught in the storm on Lake Michigan that sank the car ferry MILWAUKEE. The AMASA STONE was downbound with 10,000 tons of coal off Ludington, MI when she felt the blunt of the storm. On July 29, 1930, in heavy seas on Lake Erie 6 miles north of Dunkirk, NY the AMASA STONE rescued 6 of the 21 crewmen of the capsized sand boat GEORGE J. WHELAN. In 1938 the boilers were replaced and in the 1952 the engine was replaced with a 5 cylinder 1,800 ihp Skinner Uniflow engine.

Vessel did not fit out and sail in 1958, sailed for the 1959 season and was laid up in early 1960 never to sail again. Sold for scrap to Marine Salvage Ltd. of Port Colborne, Ont. in 1964. Resold in May 1965 to Medusa Portland Cement Co. of Charlevoix, MI to be stripped down to the hull and serve as a dock and break wall along with the CHARLES S. HEBARD at the port entrance in Charlevoix, MI where it remains to this day.

On the timber ways prior to launching. March 25, 1905, Wyandotte, MI.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Launching of the Amasa Stone. March 25, 1905. From March 30, 1905 issue of Marine Review.
(Joe Komjathy collection)

Launched March 25, 1905.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Just after launch. March 25, 1905.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Bow view just after launch. March 25, 1905. From March 30, 1905 issue of Marine Review.
(Joe Komjathy collection)

March 30, 1905 Marine Review article about the launchings of the Amasa Stone and James E. Davidson.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

March 30, 1905 Marine Review article continued.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

March 30, 1905 Marine Review article continued.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Photo taken in 1905, possibly on her Maiden Voyage.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Captain George B. Mallory in 1905 aboard the Amasa Stone.
(From the archives of the J.W. Westcott Co. courtesy of John Belliveau)

(L to R) Capt. Mallory, John Ward Westcott, Harry Coulby, unknown man, and Mr. Walterson aboard the Amasa Stone 1905.
(From the archives of the J.W. Westcott Co. courtesy of John Belliveau)

Postcard view St. Clair River 1905.
(Paul C. LaMarre III Collection)

Dry-dock view.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Postcard view "Passing Detroit".
(From the Paul C. LaMarre III collection)

Reverse side of previous postcard view sent from a former crew member in 1908.
(From the Paul C. LaMarre III collection)

D.M & N. RY Docks Duluth, MN. Postcard view.
(From the Paul C. LaMarre III collection)

Waiting to enter the Canadian Soo Lock.
(From the Paul C. LaMarre III collection)

Ashtabula Harbor circa 1913 to 1917.
(Paul C. LaMarre III Collection)

Circa 1913 to 1917. Still has tall masts.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Circa 1913 to 1917.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Circa 1918 to 26.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

At the Soo Locks Circa 1930's or 40's.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Bow view detail. Circa 1930's or 40's possibly the Cuyahoga River.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

At the Soo Locks Circa 1930's or 40's.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Upbound at Little Rapids Cut, St. Marys River October 22, 1941.
(From the Tom Manse collection)

Postcard view entering icy Soo Locks.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Detroit River.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Sailing in-ballast.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Upbound at Port Huron, MI 1940's.
(From the John Belliveau collection)

Entering the Soo locks and putting men ashore. Circa late 1940's.
(From the Russ Plumb collection)

At Milwaukee, WI unloading coal.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Stern view at Milwaukee, WI unloading coal.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Another stern view at Milwaukee, WI further along the process of unloading coal.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Upbound St. Marys River circa 1930's.
(From the Bob Campbell collection)

Another view downbound in the St. Marys River.
(From the Tom Manse collection)

Downbound at the Soo locks.
(From the Tom Manse collection)

Sailing in-ballast in the lower St. Clair River. June 26, 1949.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Downbound in the Detroit River with the J. W. Westcott II alongside making a mail delivery. Early 1950's.
(From the archives of the J.W. Westcott Co. courtesy of John Belliveau)

At Sturgeon Bay, WI 1952.
(Paul C. LaMarre Jr. collection)

Manitowoc Shipbuilding, March 1956, shows a bow view of the Amasa Stone and the John A. Kling.
(Photo by Dick Sheehy)

An aft view of the previous picture. In the foreground are three Standard Oil Tankers: Possibly the Red Crown, the Suebert and the Cowan.
(Photo by Dick Sheehy)

At Republic Steel dock on the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, OH. Mid 1950's.
(Photo by Fred Bultman IV from the Fred Bultman V collection)

Waiting to enter the mouth of the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, OH. Mid 1950's.
(Photo by Fred Bultman IV from the Fred Bultman V collection)

Sailing down the Manitowoc River to begin her first trip of the Spring 1956 season.
(Photo by Dick Sheehy)

Downbound in the St. Marys River.
(From the Tom Manse collection)

Downbound at Mission Point, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 1950's.
(From the John Belliveau collection)

In the Portage Channel June 1957.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Nickel Plate Road Ore Dock at Huron, Ohio 1957.
(From the Rich Weiss collection)

Engine Room. Wm. Wade the 2nd Assistant and aide Jas B.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Engine Room. Wm. Wade at the throttle.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Engine Room. Jas. B. at the throttle.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Downbound in the Soo Locks September 2, 1956.
(Photo by Don Geske Sr.)

Downbound in the Soo Locks September 2, 1956.
(Photo by Don Geske Sr.)

Being lowered in the Soo Locks September 2, 1956.
(Photo by Don Geske Sr.)

Departing the Soo Locks September 2, 1956.
(Photo by Don Geske Sr.)

Amasa Stone boarding pass.
(Courtesy of the Al Slater collection)

Amasa Stone boarding pass, reverse side.
(Courtesy of the Al Slater collection)

At Toledo, OH, 1950's.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Detroit River 1959.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Upbound at Mission Point, Sault Ste. Marie, MI. May 17, 1959.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Downbound in lake Huron.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

With tug Massachusetts from Interlake Log 1959.
(Al Slater collection)

Cleveland, OH. Date unknown.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Amasa Stone, Robert Hobson, Charles Schwab and Samuel Mather at lay-up.
(From the Bob Rendrick collection courtesy of Paul C. LaMarre III)

Her sailing days over at Toledo, OH September 1962.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Collection of sketches by former crewmember Al Slater while he was Watchman onboard the Amasa Stone in 1959

Waterline scale drawing depicting appearance from circa 1905.
(Drawing by John Belliveau)

Planned layout of break wall at Medusa Cement terminal utilizing the hulls of Amasa Stone and Charles S. Hebard.
(From the Charlevoix Courier, August 11, 1965 - Joe Komjathy collection)

Report of the reconditioning of the hulls at Bultema Dock & Dredge Co. at Manistee, MI.
(From the Charlevoix Courier, November 10, 1965 - Joe Komjathy collection)

Preparing to be sunk in place for service as break wall at Medusa Cement Dock.
(From the Charlevoix Courier, July 13, 1966 - Joe Komjathy collection)

View of Charles S. Hebard inbound Duluth October 11, 1958 while in service for Wilson Transit fleet.
(From the Joe Komjathy collection)

Stern of the Amasa Stone with lettering removed; it once read "Amasa Stone of Wilmington". Summer 2001.
(Photo by Joe Komjathy)

Star board quarter of the stern. Part of the bulwarks removed to allow ships to tie up to the bits. Summer 2001.
(Photo by Joe Komjathy)

Close up of starboard bow area, two portholes and a windlass steam "burper". The porthole on the right is to the anchor locker space and the porthole on the left was to originally a spare cabin located with the rest of the forward crew cabins on the main deck forward. The portholes are covered with steel plates. Summer 2001.
(Photo by Joe Komjathy)

The bow of the Amasa Stone progressing into the V-notch stern of the Charles S. Hebard. In this picture, you can see the Stone's starboard anchor hawse collar protruding from the hull. Summer 2001.
(Photo by Joe Komjathy)

Close up of the Charles S. Hebard stern name with raised letters and the Amasa Stone bow meeting. Summer 2001.
(Photo by Joe Komjathy)

Break wall.
(From Boatnerd archives)

Stern detail view. November 23, 2001.
(Photo by Mike Nichols from Boatnerd archives)

November 23, 2001.
(Photo by Mike Nichols from Boatnerd archives)

Amasa Stone (L) and Charles S. Hebard (R) hulls serving as break wall.
(from Boatnerd archives)

Approaching the break wall as seen from the inbound St. Marys Challenger. Summer 2005.
(Photo by Joe Komjathy)

Bow of Charles S. Herbard, the beginning of the break wall pointed northeast. Summer 2005.
(Photo by Joe Komjathy)

View of where the two hulls meet. Summer 2005.
(Photo by Joe Komjathy)

Looking down on the fantail of the Amasa Stone. Rudder tiller, after deckhouse foundation, and original bitts are still visible. Summer 2005.
(Photo by Joe Komjathy)

Ocotber 4, 2014. New
(Photo by Matt Miner)

Amasa Stone on the left and the Charles S. Hebard on the right, Ocotber 4, 2014. New
(Photo by Matt Miner)

Ocotber 4, 2014. New
(Photo by Matt Miner)

What is left of her name on the stern quarter, Ocotber 4, 2014. New
(Photo by Matt Miner)

Rudder tiller and bits, Ocotber 4, 2014. New
(Photo by Matt Miner)

Ocotber 4, 2014. New
(Photo by Matt Miner)

The rudder is still attached, Ocotber 4, 2014. New
(Photo by Matt Miner)

Ocotber 4, 2014. New
(Photo by Matt Miner)