George F. Rand 1926 - 1954
Ben W. Calvin 1954 - 1974

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Built by the American Ship Building Co. of Lorain, OH as hull # 338. Launched on February 11, 1911 as WILLIAM C. AGNEW for the Buffalo Steamship Co. managed by John Mitchell of Cleveland, OH. Dimensions: 557’ loa x 58’ beam x 31’ depth; 6,533 GRT, 4,985 NRT. Powered by a 1,760 ihp triple expansion steam engine and three coal-fired Scotch marine boilers built by the shipyard.

The vessel was sold to American Steamship Co. managed by Boland and Cornelius of Buffalo, NY in 1922 and in 1926 was renamed GEORGE F. RAND. In 1936 she was converted to a self-unloader by the American Ship Building Co. at Lorain, OH. New tonnage: 7,210 GRT, 6,350 NRT. On October 17, 1951, at 3:17 a.m. the HARVEY H. BROWN collided with the GEORGE F. RAND in the St. Clair River just below the Huron Cut in fog. Both ships were heavily damaged in the collision. The RAND was in the most danger, and she was beached, facing upriver on the U.S. side, near the mouth of the Black River. She soon settled to the bottom with a 10-degree list to starboard. There was danger that her cargo of silica sand would shift and cause the RAND to roll over onto her starboard side but, fortunately, this did not occur. The USCG cutter ACACIA assisted at first with pumping on the RAND, which managed to keep steam up as her machinery spaces were not flooded. Eventually it was decided that a salvage company would have to be called in to raise the RAND. McQueen Marine Ltd., of Amherstburg, Ont. was called to the scene and, after about a week of work, McQueen was successful in raising the steamer. After discharging her sand cargo at Port Huron, the RAND was taken to the shipyard at Toledo, where her damage was repaired. The HARVEY H. BROWN had already proceeded to a Lake Erie port to discharge her cargo and proceeded to the shipyard for repairs to her bow. (1951 collision with the HARVEY H. BROWN information provided by Ron Beaupre courtesy of The Toronto Marine Historical Society)

In 1954 the vessel was again renamed to BEN W. CALVIN.

She was towed down the Welland Canal on April 12, 1974 by the tugs G. W. ROGERS and SALVAGE MONARCH. The BEN W. CALVIN departed Quebec in tandem tow with the JACK WIRT by the Polish tug LORAL and arrived in early June 1974 at Valencia, Spain for scrapping.

Sailing in ballast.
(Photo by Pesha from the Paul C. LaMarre III collection)

Drawing of the George F. Rand from an article in "Great Lakes Self-Unloading Bulk Cargo Vessels" by Albert W. Cross from The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Transactions 1938. According to the article, conversion from bulker to self-unloader at Lorain, OH took only 12 weeks and 3 days to complete. The ship left the yard on September 16, 1936.
(From the Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Captain Evan Solberg in the wheelhouse of the George F. Rand 1946 - 47.
(From the Ron Beaupre collection)

Passing Detroit June 25, 1950.
(From the Ron Beaupre collection)

Beached after collision with Harvey H Brown, Port Huron. USCG Acacia alongside Oct. 12, 1951.
(Photo by John H Bascom from the Ron Beaupre collection)

Pumping out the water.
(Jim Kidd photo from the Ron Beaupre collection)

Under the Bluewater Bridge.
(From the Ron Beaupre collection)

Stern view.
(From the Ron Beaupre collection)

A shot of my family with my Grandfather Ben to the left, his wife Wanda, 2 sons Ben & John, Ben's (II) wife Jean and my father and mother, Warren & Jackie, with my brother Wade in front. He looks to be about 5 dating this shot to about 1955. I'm not sure of the event but know that on at least one occasion my mother & father cruised the great lakes as guests of the Captain. New
(Paul Johnson collection)

At Huron, OH with tug assistance 1957.
(From the Rich Weiss collection)

At Cleveland, OH 1957 Note: The Bultman family Studebaker in foreground.
(Photo by Fred Bultman IV from the Fred Bultman V collection)

Bow detail at Cleveland, OH 1957.
(Photo by Fred Bultman IV from the Fred Bultman V collection)

Detail of "A Frame" self unloading hopper.
(Photo by Fred Bultman IV from the Fred Bultman V collection)

Loading from the steam powered dumper at Dock #24 in Cleveland, OH on the lakefront. Tied up opposite to the Donald B. Gillies. Mid 1950's.
(Photo by Fred Bultman IV from the Fred Bultman V collection)

Another view loading from the steam powered dumper at Dock #24 in Cleveland, OH on the lakefront. Tied up opposite to the Donald B. Gillies. Mid 1950's.
(Photo by Fred Bultman IV from the Fred Bultman V collection)

Stern view in the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, OH late 1950's.
(Photo by Fred Bultman IV from the Fred Bultman V collection)

In the Detroit River 1964.
(From the Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Down bound at unknown location.
(Photo by Tom Manse)

St. Marys River August 1967.
(Photographer unknown from the Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Above the Soo Locks.
(Photo by Tom Manse)

July 1968 Possibly lower Detroit River.
(From the Russ Plumb collection)

July 1968 Possibly lower Detroit River.
(From the Russ Plumb collection)

Ralph Pugh (right) and possibly the Chief Engineer on deck while unloading in the Rouge River, 1967 or 1968.
(Ralph Pugh collection)

Thanksgiving Menu cover from the Ben W. Calvin November 27, 1969.
(From the Jim Hoffman collection)

Thanksgiving Menu inside from the Ben W. Calvin November 27, 1969.
(From the Jim Hoffman collection)

Photo from 1969 Thanksgiving Menu cover.
(From the Jim Hoffman collection)

At the old Detroit Lime Dock in River Rouge. November 1970.
(From the Marc Vander Meulen collection)

In the St. Clair River, August 1970.
(Photo by Emory Massman from the Marc Vander Meulen collection)

In the Cuyaho River, Cleveland, OH. 1973. Photo taken from the William R. Roesch.
(Photo by Fred Bultman V)

Unloading at dock in the Rouge River 1973.
(Photo by Roger LeLievre)

With McKee Sons laid up in Toledo, OH early 1970's.
(Photo by Roger LeLievre)

Upbound at Point Edward, Ont. October, 1973.
(Photo by Terry McCullough)

Laid up in Toledo, OH.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Laid up in Toledo, OH.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Scrap tow in the Welland Canal April 2, 1974.
(Photo by Scotty McCannell from the Gerry Ouderkirk collection)

View of stern tug Savage Monarch during scrap tow in the Welland Canal April 2, 1974.
(Photo by Scotty McCannell from the Gerry Ouderkirk collection)