William K. Field 1924 - 1934
Reiss Brothers 1934 - 1970
George D. Goble 1970 - 1980
Robert S. Pierson (1) 1980 - 1982

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Built by the Toledo Ship Building Co., Toledo as 1924, hull # 176. Launched January 24, 1924 as WILLIAM K. FIELD, flagship for Reiss Steamship Co., Sheboygan, WI. Dimensions: 603' 00" loa x 60' 00" beam x 32' 00" depth; 8,195 GRT, 6,369 NRT. Powered by a 2,200 ihp triple expansion steam engine. Entered service in April, 1924.

Renamed REISS BROTHERS in 1934. Repowered 1957 with 6,600 s.h.p. coal-fired DeLaval steam turbine engine at AmShip's Toledo yard. During the winter of 1964-65 a 800 hp bow-thruster added.

Renamed GEORGE D. GOBLE in 1970. Then sold to Edison Steamship Co. in 1971.

In 1972, she was sold to Kinsman Marine Transit Co. and retained her name. The GOBLE was used to transport two pilot houses built at American Ship Building’s South Chicago yard to the AmShip yard at Lorain, OH on July 21, 1975 where Interlake Steamship’s thousand foot Lake freighters JAMES R. BARKER and MESABI MINER were being completed.

Sold to Soo River Co. in 1980 and renamed ROBERT S. PIERSON, becoming their flag ship. Canadian tonnage; 9661 GRT, 6641 NRT.

The ROBERT S. PIERSON was sold to P & H. Shipping Ltd. when Soo River Co. went into receivership in August 1982. P&H renamed her SPRUCEGLEN (1). Her last trip for P&H was from Thunder Bay to Goderich and completed the trip on December 13, 1982.

She became the property of the Goderich Elevator & Transit Co. in 1982 as a grain storage barge at Goderich.

The SPRUCEGLEN was sold for scrap in 1985 to Shearmet Recycling and departed Goderich in tow of tug THUNDER CAPE on June 15, 1985. Assisted through the Soo Locks by W.J. IVAN PURVIS, arriving at Thunder Bay, ON. June 18th. Dismantling began in early August of 1985 but that company ceased operations before she was completely broken up. Scrapping was completed on November 22, 1986 by Shearmet’s successor, Lakehead Scrap Metal Co. The SPRUCEGLEN was the last Canadian coal-fired bulker.

On the Maumee River, Toledo, OH.
(Paul C. LaMarre III collection)

At the Hulett loaders, Conneaut, OH.
(Paul C. LaMarre III collection)

On the St. Marys River.
(Paul C. LaMarre Jr. collection)

Loading at the Soo Line dock in Ashland. New
(Chris Mazzella collection)

Passing under the Bluewater Bridge.
(Kenneth Niemi collection)

Loading bunker coal.
(Kenneth Niemi collection)

The Reiss brothers, namesakes of the Reiss Brothers.
(Kenneth Niemi collection)

With a group of ladies.
(Kenneth Niemi collection)

Upbound in the St. Marys River in the summer of 1960.
(Photo by John G. Mackay)

In the St. Clair River, October 1963.
(Photo by Emory Massman, Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Ariel view, October 1967.
(Marc Vander Meulen collection)

July, 1968.
(fMarc Vander Meulen collection)

In the Detroit River.
(Photo by Father Peter Van der Linden, Paul C. LaMarre Jr. collection)

On Lake St. Clair.
(Photo by Father Peter Van der Linden, Paul C. LaMarre Jr. collection)

Postcard view of her loading in Two Harbors.
(Matt Miner collection)

1956 trip summaries.
(Compiled by Skip Gillham)

Arriving at the grain elevators along the Buffalo River, Buffalo, NY, July 1974.
(Photo by John Robinson)

Spring fitout at Toledo's C&O Docks in the 1970's.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Upbound the Soo 1976-77.
(Photo by Rudi Rabe)

Loading coal at the C&O #3 coal machine at Toledo in the late 1970's.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Downbound Mission Point at the Soo, late 1970's.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Just arrived at Toledo's C&O #3 coal dock preparing to load coal, late 1970's.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

At Lakefront Coal Dock, Toledo, late 1970's.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

At Toledo's Lakefront Ore Dock in the 1970's.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Aproaching Lock 1 downbound, July 17, 1977.
(Photo by Skip Gillham)

At Mission Point, June 1978.
(Photo by Roger LeLievre)

July 14, 1979.
(Marc Vander Meulen collection)

1973 trip summaries.
(Compiled by Skip Gillham)

Welland Canal, Apr. 6, 1980 on maiden trip as Robert S. Pierson.
(Photo by T. "Scotty" McCannell, Gerry Ouderkirk collection)

Stern view in the Welland Canal, Apr. 6, 1980 on maiden trip as Robert S. Pierson.
(Photo by T. "Scotty" McCannell, Gerry Ouderkirk collection)

Welland Canal.
(Terry McCullough collection)

Sailing in-ballast.
(Photo by Kenneth H. Bonnell, John Belliveau collection)

In the early 1980's.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

At Toledo in the early 1980's.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Preparing to load grain at Midstates Elevator, Toledo.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Loading grain at Midstates, Toledo.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Inbound Maumee Bay at Toledo in the early 1980's.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

At Anderson's lay up slip waiting to load grain at one of the Toledo elevators.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

At Toledo in the early 1980's.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Upbound the Maumee River.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Welland Canal.
(Terry McCullough collection)

In the Trenton Channel.
(Photo by Paul C. LaMarre Jr.)

Close up of the stern going through Homer Bridge on the Welland Canal, May 3, 1980.
(Photo by Skip Gillham)

Sliding up the wall towards Lock 2, June 4, 1982.
(Photo by Skip Gillham)

Looking down the deck aft, June 4, 1982.
(Photo by Skip Gillham)

Looking back forward, June 4, 1982.
(Photo by Skip Gillham)

Guest lounge, June 4, 1982.
(Photo by Skip Gillham)

Officer's dinning room, June 4, 1982.
(Photo by Skip Gillham)

Fire breathing life into the boilers, June 4, 1982.
(Photo by Skip Gillham)

Lining up to enter Lock 7, June 4, 1982.
(Photo by Skip Gillham)

1980 trip summaries.
(Compiled by Skip Gillham)

Inbound Maumee Bay at Toledo, fall 1982.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Fall 1982 backing away from C&O # 4 coal dock after taking on bunkers.
(Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Tied up in Goderich.
(Photo by D.G. Metz)

Goderich, ON, Mar. 24, 1984.
(Photo by unknown)

Tied up in Goderich, 1984.
(Photo by John Mackay)

Goderich, ON as a storage hull, Mar.12, 1985 at sunset with her Soo River Company markings showing through.
(Photo by John McCreery)

Goderich, ON, the morning of Mar. 13, 1985.
(Photo by John McCreery)

Stern view with the markings showing through again on Mar. 13, 1985.
(Photo by John McCreery)