Sylvania 1905 – 1914

D.M. Philbin 1914 – 1929

Sylvania 1929 - 1983

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Built by West Bay City Ship Building Co. of West Bay City, MI as hull # 613. Christened and launched on March 18, 1905 as SYLVANIA for Duluth Steamship Co. (Managed by G.A. Tomlinson) of Duluth, MN and entered service in April, 1905. Dimensions: 524’ LOA x 54’00” beam x 26’07” depth; 6,272 GRT 4,826 NRT. Cargo Capacity: 9,500 tons. Powered by an 1,800 ihp triple expansion steam engine. Her name was changed to D.M. PHILBIN in 1914 until 1929 when her name was changed back to SYLVANIA. In the winter of 1957 – 58 the SYLVANIA was lengthened 48 feet to 572’ LOA and converted to a self-unloader by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co. of Manitowoc, WI. New 5,889 GRT, 10,300 NRT. Cargo Capacity: 10,500 tons. Ownership changed to The Tomlinson Fleet Corp. of Cleveland, OH in 1954 and again to Columbia Transportation (Oglebay Norton Co.) of Cleveland, OH in 1971. Converted to oil fired boilers and had a bow thruster installed by Nicholson Terminal & Dock Co. of River Rouge, MI in 1974. This vessel was involved in several collisions and mishaps throughout her career as follows: As the SYLVANIA: involved in a collision with the SIR HENRY BESSEMER on June 12, 1905 off of Whitefish Point on Lake Superior as a result of confused passing signals. As the D.M. PHILBIN: on August 30, 1916, collided with the JOHN W. GATES at an ore dock in Duluth, MN. On May 19, 1918 collided with the steamer BELGIUM two miles NE of Whitefish Point in fog. Collided with the ORLANDO M. POE suffering slight damage in the Detroit River on July 3, 1922. On May 3, 1929 during an early season gale she ran aground near Ashtabula, OH. As SLYVANIA: Sunk in 27’ of water at the Peerless Cement Co. dock at Port Huron, MI just below the Bluewater Bridge while unloading stone on June 1, 1967 after the Canada Steamship Lines Ltd. package freighter RENVOYLE lost control in the strong currents and rammed the SYLVANIA at 10:10 p.m. on the starboard side at hatch #27. Raised by McQueen Marine Ltd. on June 12 and was towed to American Ship Building Co. in Lorain, OH for repairs. Collided with the DIAMOND ALKALI in the Fighting Island Channel of the Detroit River on November 29, 1968 during a snow squall, bow reconstructed after this mishap at American Ship Building in Toledo, OH. The SYLVANIA was stranded in the Detroit River on September 1, 1971. Ship ran aground at Belle Isle in the Detroit River on November 8, 1972 while in transit to Connors Creek power plant; freed after 22.5 hours with the assistance of 3 tugs. On June 2, 1973 she collided with the FRANK PURNELL north of the Detroit River Light in fog. On August 23, 1973 the SYLVANIA lost wheel and rudder control near Trenton, MI. A fire broke out in the hold on August 20, 1976 while moored at Lorain, OH. Ship ran aground near Trenton, MI on July 31, 1976. The SYLVANIA made her last trip on May 10, 1980 and laid up for the final time at Toledo, OH. Towed to Ashtabula, OH on November 1, 1983 for scrapping by Triad Salvage Co.

Early view of Sylvania loading ore at Superior, WI (From the Paul C. LaMarre III collection)

On the St. Clair River (Pesha photo from the Paul C. LaMarre Jr. collection)

Postcard view at the coal dock in Washburn, WI (From the Paul C. LaMarre III collection)

Postcard view of Sylvania in the Poe Lock at Sault Ste. Marie (From the Paul C. LaMarre III collection)

Postcard view of Sylvania and Saxona unloading at Conneaut, OH (From the Paul C. LaMarre III collection)

Above the Soo Locks (Photo by A.E. Young from the Paul C. LaMarre Jr. collection)

Aground near Ashtabula, OH after and early season gale. May 3 1929 (Rev. M. N. Weber collection courtesy of Paul C. LaMarre Jr.)

Under tow after grounding near Ashtabula, May 3 1929 (Rev. M. N. Weber collection courtesy of Paul C. LaMarre Jr.)

Undergoing bow repairs (From the Paul C. LaMarre Jr. collection)

Just departed the Soo Locks headed upbound for Lake Superior. (Photographer unknown from the J.R. Hoffman Marine collection.)

Sailing in ballast in the St. Marys River (From the Paul C. LaMarre Jr. collection)

Sylvania "rides one out" in the 1930's (A. Bottrell collection courtesy of Paul C. LaMarre Jr.)

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

Upbound in the St. Clair River with a deck load of Dodges (A. Bottrell collection courtesy of Paul C. LaMarre Jr.)

Unloading ore (Paul C. LaMarre Jr. collection)

Postcard view upbound at Mission Point (From the Paul C. LaMarre III collection)

In the Welland Canal. 1964. (From the Terry McCullough collection) New

Story & Photo Collection

Sylvania and Renvoyle Collision at Port Huron on June 1, 1967

Stern view underway in Tomlinson Fleet colors 1965 (From the Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Upbound at Port Huron (Photo by Paul Michaels) 

At Detroit August 1973. (Photo by Terry McCullough) New

Upbound at Point Edward, Ont. (From the Terry McCullough collection) New

Under assistance by a G-tug in the 1970's (Photo by Rudi Rabe)

Being towed down the Trenton Channel by the tug America 1976 (Photo by Paul C. LaMarre Jr.)

Bow of Sylvania as seen from a G-tug in the Trenton Channel (Photo by Paul C. LaMarre Jr.)

Unloading coal in 1977  (Photo by Rudi Rabe)

Downbound at Port Huron (Photo by Paul Michaels)

Arriving at dock to load (Photo by Paul Michaels)

Loading coal at Toledo, OH (Photo by Paul Michaels)

Underway in 1974 (From the Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Blowing the whistle (Photo by Paul C. LaMarre Jr.)

(Photo by Gene Onchulenko courtesy of MHSD)

Inbound Maumee Bay Toledo, OH 1978. (Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Backing away from C&O Coal Docks Toledo, OH 1978. (Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Loading coal at C&O#3 Dock. The bumboat Deweys is alongside. Toledo, OH Late 1970's (Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Downbound Maumee River from the Cherry Street Bridge, Toledo, OH Late 1970's (Photo by Jim Hoffman)

In layup at the Hocking Valley Dock, Toledo, OH (Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Approaching C&O Coal Docks, Toledo, OH Late 1970's.  (Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Outbound from Maumee Bay, Toledo, OH Late 1970's. (Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Inbound Maumee Bay Toledo, OH bound for the C&O Coal Docks at Toledo, OH (Photo by Jim Hoffman)

Unloading at port Huron, MI (photo by Paul C. LaMarre Jr.)

Loading coal at Toledo, OH December 1979 (Photo by Paul C. LaMarre Jr.)

Collection of artwork of the Sylvania by Paul C. LaMarre Jr.

Loading coal at Toledo, OH 1980 (Photo by Bob Vincent)

Stern view loading coal at Toledo, OH 1980 (Photo by Bob Vincent)

Article from the July - August 1980 issue of 'Telescope' by Paul C. LaMarre Jr. (Courtesy of Paul C. LaMarre III)

(From the Paul C. LaMarre III collection)