George W. Perkins 1905 - 1964
Westdale 1964 - 1977
H. C. Heimbecker 1977 - 1981

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Built by Superior Shipbuilding Co. as hull 512. Launched on June 26, 1905 as GEORGE W. PERKINS for Pittsburgh Steamship Company, Cleveland, Ohio. Dimensions: 569' 00" loa x 56' 00" beam x 31' 00" depth; 6,406 GRT, 4,922 NRT. Powered by a 1,800 ihp triple expansion engine and two Scotch marine boilers. Entered service in July 1905, the last of four newly built ships for Pittsburgh SteamshiIn January 1964, she was sold to Westdale Shipping Ltd. and renamed WESTDALE. The number of holds was converted from two to three so that she could carry a more diverse grain cargo. This changed her tonnages to 7,584 GRT and 5,440 NRT. During the 1972-73 winter lay up, the boilers were converted over to burn oil and the holds were configured to five.

Then GEORGE W. PERKINS collided with steamer WILLIAM P. SNYDER, JR. in Duluth Harbor, June 16, 1918. Received two new Babcock & Wilcox boilers, new larger stack, and the mast was moved in front of the stack in 1936. During the 1940-41 winter lay up, her hatches were converted from 33 on 12' centers to 17 on 24' centers with new single piece hatch covers and an iron deckhand. Two years later her tonnages were changed to 6,553 GRT and 5,452 NRT. Due to corporate restructuring in 1952, the PERKINS was transferred to United States Steel Corp. Arrived in Milwaukee in June 1960 to be placed in long term lay up.

In January 1964, she was sold to Westdale Shipping Ltd. and renamed WESTDALE. The number of holds was converted from two to three so that she could carry a more diverse grain cargo. This changed her tonnages to 7,584 GRT and 5,440 NRT. During the 1972-73 winter lay up, the boilers were converted over to burn oil and the holds were configured to five.

Sold to Soo River Company in 1977 and renamed H. C. HEIMBECKER. On October 29, 1981, during her trip from Thunder Bay with a load of grain, a crack in her boiler was found. She proceeded to Owen Sound and unloaded the cargo and determined not worth the cost to fix. She was traded to Triad Salvage of Ashtabula for the MAXINE that Triad had bought earlier in the year. The Heimbecker departed Owen Sound under her own power bound for the Ashtabula scrapyard and arrived ther on November 2nd. The dismantling completed by the next year and the MAXINE would later become the OAKGLEN {1}.

Under construction post card at Superior Shipbuilding, 1905
(Paul LaMarre III collection)

Under construction post card at Superior Shipbuilding, 1905
(Paul LaMarre III collection)

Departing the Poe Lock downbound, 1906
(Paul LaMarre III collection)

Clearing the Poe Lock, 1906
(Paul LaMarre III collection)

Postcard version of the previous picture.
(Photo by A. E. Young, Matt Miner collection)

Hard to believe this card was mailed 100 years ago.
(Photo by A. E. Young, Matt Miner collection)

Running light upbound at Mission Pt., late 1900's
(Photo by A. E. Young, Paul LaMarre III collection)

Passing throught the Interstate Bridge in Superior.
(Paul LaMarre III collection)

Loading in Two Harbors, MN.
(Paul LaMarre III collection)

Ore shoots lowering down from the dock in Two Harbors, MN.
(Paul LaMarre III collection)

Being unloaded by hydraulic clam shell unloader.
(Paul LaMarre III collection)

Under the Hulett unloader in Conneaut, Ohio.
(Paul LaMarre III collection)

Downbound the St. Marys River
(Paul LaMarre III collection)

Passing Mission Pt. downbound.
(Paul LaMarre III collection)

Unknown location.
(Photo by Father Dowling, Paul LaMarre III collection)

Laid up in Lorain behind the E. C. Collins.
(From the Paul C. LaMarre Jr. collection)

Passing under the Ambassador Bridge.
(Russ Plumb collection)

Loaded and underway.
(Jim Luke Collection)

Entering the Port Weller Piers from Lake Ontario, 1964
(Terry McCullough collection)

Out in Lake Ontario, 1964
(Terry McCullough collection)

Upbound the Welland Canal, 1960's
(Rich Weiss Collection)

Inside the Port Weller Piers, 1960's
(Terry McCullough collection)

Transitting the Welland Canal, 1960's
(Terry McCullough collection)

Wintering in Toronto, February 1965. New
(Photo by John Mackay)

Downbound in the Welland Canal, April 1966. New
(Photo by John Mackay)

Agway Elevator in Huron, Ohio, October 1966
(Rich Weiss Collection)

Postcard veiw of her being raised in Lock 5 West with the Quedoc departing Lock 6 East.
(Don Geske Collection)

Postcard veiw a few minutes later of her raised and about to depart into 6.
(Gerry Ouderkirk Collection)

Loading grain at the Andersons Elevator with the bumboat Deweys alongside.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Black & white version.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

The "G" tug Kansas leading the tow up the Maumee bound for one of the grain elevators.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

St. Clair River, 1967
(Photo by John G. Mackay)

Approaching Iroquois Lock, 1967
(Photo by Ron Beaupre)

Unloading at the elevator in Port McNicoll, ON, 1968
(Photo by John G. Mackay)

Stern view, 1968
(Photo by John G. Mackay)

St. Clair River, 1969
(Photo by John G. Mackay)

Clear summer afternoon, 1974
(Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Running light in the St. Marys river bound for a load grain.
(Photo by Roger LeLievre)

Upbound in the Welland Canal lining up for Lock 7.
(Photo by Emory Massman, Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Tying up to Midstates Elevator in Toledo.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Tying up to Midstates Elevator in Toledo.
(Photo by Don Geske)

Upbound at Mission Pt., May 1973
(Terry McCullough collection)

Laid up with the Thornhill in Goderich, Feb. 1974
(Terry McCullough collection)

Loading at Goderich Elevators.
(Photo by Paul LaMarre Jr.)

1965 summary of trips.
(Compiled by Steve Elve, Mark Shumaker, Skip Gillham)

1976 summary of trips.
(Compiled by Steve Elve, Mark Shumaker, Skip Gillham)

In the Welland Canal on one of her first trips, 1977.
(Photo by Paul LaMarre Jr)

On the St Clair River, 1977.
(Terry McCullough collection)

Downbound the Mauemee River at the Cherry St. Bridge, Toledo.
(Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Downbound the Detroit River.
(Jason LeDue collection)

Downbound the St. Clair River, September 1977
(Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Downbound the St. Marys River, 1978
(Photo by Roger LeLievre)

On the Welland Canal between Locks 1 & 2, August 16, 1978
(Photo by Scotty McCannel, Gerry Ouderkirk collection)

Transitting the St. Marys River loaded.
(Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Stern view.
(Marc Vander Meulen collection)

H. C. Heimbecker cross ways in harbor while making her turn around in Owen Sound after unloading at elevators
(Photo by Wayne Brown)

Laid up for the winter in Goderich, March 1979
(Photo by Lynn Miner)

Wide veiw of Goderich Harbor. Left to right, D. B. Weldon, Lionel Parsons, H. C. Heimbecker and R. G. Sanderson, March 1979
(Photo by Lynn Miner)

Heading up the Maumee River for a load of grain.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Loading at Cargil Elevator, Toledo.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Heading up to the elevators at Craig Bridge, Toledo with the tugs Pennsylvania & New Jersey.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Downbound the St. Marys River, July 1980
(Photo by Bob Campbell, Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Sea smoke on Lake Superior, 1980
(Photo by Capt. Dick Metz)

Making her way across Georgian Bay to Midland, 1980
(Photo by Capt. Dick Metz)

Breaking a path through ice into Midland, 1980
(Photo by Capt. Dick Metz)

The bow from elevator dock, 1980
(Photo by Capt. Dick Metz)

Inside the pilothouse, 1980e: solid; bor(Photo by Capt. Dick Metz)

Captain's office, 1980
(Photo by Capt. Dick Metz)

Captain's quarters, 1980
(Photo by Capt. Dick Metz)

Captain's bedroom, 1980
(Photo by Capt. Dick Metz)

J. N. McWaters departing Midland while the Heimbecker stays behind, 1980px" bordercol(Photo by Rob Hartley)

Departure clock behind the pilothouse, 1980bordercolor="(Photo by Rob Hartley)

H. C. Heimbecker shortly after laying up along side the John E. F. Misner at Midland-Simcoe elevator in Midland, Dec. 27, 1980
(Photo by Gerry Ouderkirk)

Departing Lock 8 downbound with a fleet mate waiting.
(Photo by Bob Campbell)

Morning on the St. Marys River.
(Photo by Dick Wicklund)

Passing through the Livingston Channel.
(Photo by Paul LaMarre Jr.)

Downbound and loaded in the Welland Canal.
(Photo by Alfred Sagon-King, Jim Hoffman collection)

John E. F. Misner and H. C. Heimbecker together with the J. N. McWatters behind in Midland, 1981
(Photo by Wayne Brown)

A closer view, 1981
(Photo by Mike Nicholls)

Aerial veiw from the Glendale Bridge on the Welland Canal, May 1981
(Photo by Bob Campbell)

In the lower St. Marys River, July 1981
(Photo by Bob Campbell)

Passing Pt. Louis in the upper St. Marys River from the Soo River Trader, 1981
(Photo by Capt. Dick Metz)

A farewell wave from Jim Luke from the Donegal.
(Jim Luke Collection)

Last time through Detroit on a foggy morning, 1981order-style: (Photo by Harry Wolf, Bruce MacDonald Collection)

One of the last blasts of the whistle, 1981
(Photo by Paul LaMarre Jr.)

Most of the stern cut away in Ashtabula, December 26, 1981.
(Photo by Skip Gillham)

1977-81 trip summaries.
(Compiled by Steve Elve, Mark Shumaker, Skip Gillham)

H. C. Heimbecker himself holding a print of the ship by Paul LaMarre Jr.

Painting of the Heimbecker by Paul LaMarre Jr., Nov. 1984