Henry Ford II 1924 - 1988
Samuel Mather (7) 1989 - 1994

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Built at American Ship Building Co., Lorain, OH 1924 as hull # 788. Launched on March 1, 1924 as HENRY FORD II for Ford Motor Co. Marine Division, Dearborn, MI. Sea trials and maiden voyage took place on August 14, 1924. Dimensions: 611' loa x 62' beam x 32' depth; 8,877 GRT, 7,074 NRT. Cargo capacity 15,200 tons as bulk carrier, 13,400 tons as self-unloader. Power: Single opposed piston, 4 cylinder Sun-Doxford diesel engine rated at 3000 s.h.p.

Converted to self unloading vessel in 1974 by American Ship Building Co., Lorain, OH. In 1981 Ford Motor Co. changed fleet management to Rouge Steel Company, a subsidiary to Ford Motor Co. Laid up in the Rouge Steel slip, Dearborn, MI on December 28, 1988 never to sail again.

On March 13, 1989 Rouge Steel Co. sold its marine operations to Lakes Shipping Co. of Cleveland, OH (managed by Interlake Steamship Co. of Cleveland). Named changed to SAMUEL MATHER (7). Moved to Hocking Valley slip at Toledo, OH on June 23, 1989 and again on November 7, 1989 to the C&O “Frog Pond”.

Left Toledo in tow on December 20, 1994 destined for Port Maitland, ON. for scrapping by International Marine Salvage Inc.

Christening flag flying, Circa 1920's.
(Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Circa 1920's.
(Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Postcard view of Henry Ford II at the Ford Sawmill loading dock in L'Anse, MI during the 1920's.
(Paul C. LaMarre III Collection)

Collection of 60 images
From a circa 1920's photo album documenting a trip by passengers on the Henry Ford II.
(Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Panoramic version of postcard view of Henry Ford II at Ford Sawmill loading dock in L'Anse, MI 1920's.
(Clyde Elmblad collection)

View of Ford Rouge slip.
(from the Violet Bostwick collection)

Leaving Soo Locks 1930's.
(Tom Manse collection)

Postcard view at the Rouge Steel Huletts.
(Paul C. LaMarre III Collection)

Henry Ford II in the St Marys River.
(Paul C. LaMarre Jr. Collection)

Rudder detail 1940's.
(Tom Manse collection)

Engine Room crew circa 1940's. Chief Engineer Malcolm McLaren shown standing in the middle.
(From the Paul McLaren collection)

Chief Eng. M. McLaren in his USCG uniform. Mr. McLaren served in as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy in WWI and in the U.S. Coast Guard before working on the Henry Ford II.
(From the Paul McLaren collection)

Chief Eng M. McLaren with his wife Edna and youngest son David.
(From the Paul McLaren collection)

Chief Eng. M. McLaren with his two sons John and David.
(From the Paul McLaren collection)

Young David McLaren on the Henry Ford II.
(David is the father of Paul Mclaren whose collection this photo is from)

David McLaren on the Henry Ford II.
(From the Paul McLaren collection)

Article by Chief Engineer Malcolm McLaren (1942 - 47) for an engineering publication about the Henry Ford II diesel engine.
(Courtesy of Paul D. McLaren)

Downbound Mission Point, Sault Ste. Marie, MI early 1960's.
(Photo by Tom Manse)

Downbound St. Clair River.
(Photo by Emory Massman from the Jim Hoffman collection)

Unloading at Rouge Plant, Dearborn, MI.
(Clyde Elmblad collection)

Upbound St. Marys River.
(Photographer unknown, Jim Hoffman collection)

Downbound Mission Point, Sault Ste. Marie, MI.
(Clyde Elmblad collection)

Postcard view in MacArthur Lock.
(Clyde Elmblad collection)

Postcard view departing the MacArthur Lock.
(Paul C. LaMarre III Collection)

Lower St. Clair River, September 1962.
(From the Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Bow detail lower St. Clair River, September 1962.
(From the Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Upbound at Port Huron 1964.
(Paul C. LaMarre Jr. collection)

Waterline & full hull scale drawings depicting appearance from circa 1924.
(Drawings by John Belliveau)

Upbound St. Marys River mid 1960's Note: All blue stack before white band was added.
(Photo by Tom Manse)

Passing Detroit with mailboat J. W. Westcott II heading out to make a delivery June 1968.
(Skip Meier collection)

Downbound St. Marys River.
(Photographer unknown, from the Jim Hoffman collection)

Upbound St. Marys River.
(Photo by Detroit River Traders, from the Jim Hoffman collection)

Postcard view at Mission Point.
(Paul C. LaMarre III Collection)

September 1969.
(Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Downbound Port Huron, MI.
(Roger LeLievre collection)

Downbound at Mission Point, Sault Ste. Marie, MI.
(Photo by Tom Manse)

Underway in the St. Clair River 1972.
(Photo by Halstead J. Jackson)

Downbound St. Clair River near Port Huron August, 1973.
(Photo by Terry McCullough)

Upbound St. Clair River at Port Huron early 1970's.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

At Lakefront coal docks loading coal with bumboat Deweys alongside. Early 1970's, Toledo, OH.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Postcard view.
(Clyde Elmblad collection)

At Lakefront coal docks loading coal with bumboat Deweys alongside. Early 1970's, Toledo, OH.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Postcard view at Escanaba, MI with Charles C. West loading ore.
(John Belliveau Collection)

Possibly downbound in the Detroit River. New
(Matt Miner Collection)