The John W. Brown Visits the Great Lakes

In a ceremony at Toledo Ship Repair July 13, the last ceremonial "Golden Rivet" was driven in to the hull of the World War II Liberty Ship John W. Brown. The Brown arrived on May 27 and had about 14,000 rivets replaced by the skilled crews at the ship yard.

The Brown made the journey to under go rivet replacement at the only yard capable of this type of work, experienced riveting crews are not easily found on salt water. This is not the case on the Great Lakes where many riveted hulls are still in existence.

In addition to the rivets, the vessels propeller, bearings, and through-hull fittings were inspected.; workers replaced zinc anodes on the hull that stem corrosion, replaced some of the ship's steel plates, sandblast and repaint the hull, and built life raft storage racks. The price tag for the work was  just under $1,000,000.

The Liberty ships were built as part of an emergency shipbuilding program during World War II to carrying equipment and supplies. Today only two operating Liberty ships exist from a fleet that numbered 2,710.

The vessel will tour lower lakes ports and be open for tours. In three ports the Brown will offer locals one of the vessel's famous "Living History Day Cruises." All cruises are sold out except for the cruise departing from Toronto.

Below are pictures of the Brown's journey on the Lakes

Onboard a "Living History Cruise" July 22

• The John W. Brown at dock in Windsor.
• Stern view.
• Close up of her name board at the dock.
• The Brown builds up steam as she departs the dock.
• Gaelic tugs Shannon and Patricia Hoey turn the Brown. Pat Pavlat & Frank Bachnak.
• Patricia Hoey pulling on the stern.

Tug Shannon is the former U.S. Navy tug Connawango, YTB 388 built in 1943 for service in the Pacific.

• Shannon working on the Brown's bow. William Hoey
• Shannon departs Windsor. William Hoey
• Close up of the Shannon painted with her WWII stack colors and name.

A flotilla of local boats followed the Brown

• The U.S. Mail Boat J.W. Westcott II.
• Detroit fire boat Curtis Randolph put on an impressive display.
• The tour boat Diamond Queen along side.
• Tug Magnetic included in the parade.

Away from the dock the cruise begins

• Tug Shannon leads the Brown up the Detroit River. William Hoey
• Passing Detroit's skyline. William Hoey
• The Mail Boat comes along side. Pat Pavlat & Frank Bachnak.
• The Brown is controlled from an open air Flying Bridge.
• Rear view of the Flying Bridge.
• The master of the Brown watches over his ship.
• Another view of the Brown's master and Great Lakes Pilot.
• On deck the passengers enjoy the cruise.
• Live entertainment is just part of the fun.
• Another view of the band.

• In the engine room, crews work the ship's massive triple expansion steam engine.
• Looking down the side of the engine.
• The engine room telegraph.

• Passengers enjoy lunch below deck.
• The same area where the Brown also carried troops in WWII.

• The Brown steams on for Lake St. Clair. Pat Pavlat & Frank Bachnak.
• The Master and mate check their position before the Memorial Service.
• Below the flying bridge is the Battle Bridge.
• View through the three small windows.

• The cruise included numerous fly bys of WWII aircraft.
• This included an attack by Japanese aircraft. Crews "shoot down" the attacking plane.
• The Diamond Queen turns to head back to her Detroit dock.
• Included on the cruise were historic interpreters, here we see General George S. Patton, Jr.

The Brown is an operating museum, visitors have access to most of the ship and its many displays.

• An actual  "dear John Letter" sent to a crew man in WWII.
• No visit is complete without a visit to the well stocked Gift Shop.
• One unique souvenir is an actual 1942 rivet from the John W. Brown. Here we see "Brownie the Riveter" selling RIVET BONDS.

• We return to the dock sorry to see the 6 hours cruise end.
• The Brown's Master and Great Lakes pilot supervise the docking.

Friendly aircraft flying over the Brown included Great Lakes Aerial Photos. Below are aerial views taken by Don Coles.

• Don passes overhead N. Schultheiss
• The Brown heading into Lake St. Clair.
• A closer view.
• Heading into the lake.
• The tug Shannon as she escorted the Brown.

Aerial views are available by e-mailing LoftyPics@aol.com

Arriving in Windsor July 20 by William Hoey

• Heading up the Detroit River.
• Stern view upbound on the Detroit River.
• Tug Carolyn Hoey leads the Brown.
• Carolyn Hoey working with the Brown.
• Close up of the stern from the tug Patricia Hoey.
• Having turn the Brown against the river's current, she docks safely in Windsor.

In Toledo by Jim Hoffman

• At dock and open for tours.
• Departing Toledo with assistance from the Gaelic Tugboat Co,
• Steaming out to Lake Erie.
• Stern view.

Dry Dock Work

• Dry dock photo gallery

Arriving in Toledo

• The tug William Hoey waits at the entrance to the river as the Brown steams in. W. Hoey Sr.
• The Brown enters the Maumee River as tugs prepare to attach the tow lines. W. Hoey Sr.
• On board the tug lead Susan Hoey Jim Storen and Rich Sibbersen Jr. tie the tow line on the Susan Hoey. W. Hoey Sr.
• The Susan Hoey leads the Brown past the CSX dock with the William Hoey on the Stern. Dave Wobser.
• The tow continues as the John J. Boland backs out of the CSX dock loaded with coal. Dave Wobser.
• A close up of the Browns Flying bridge as Captain Esbensen and pilot Phil Knetchel maneuver her in the river. Dave Wobser.
• The Brown is guided up the Maumee River by the Susan Hoey. W. Hoey Sr.
• On board the Gaelic tug Susan Hoey as she guides the Brown through one of the railroad bridges. W. Hoey Sr.
• Through the other railroad bridge. W. Hoey Sr.
• The tugs William and Susan Hoey working to dock the Brown. W. Hoey Sr.
• A view of the tow from across the river. Pat P.
• A line is thrown from the Brown to the dock. W. Hoey Sr.

In the Welland Canal

• The Brown departing Lock 1. Jim Hoffman
• Between Lock 2 and 3. Jim Hoffman
• Approaching the Homer Bridge. Jim Hoffman
• Bow view of the Brown in the Welland Canal bypass area between Port Robinson and Port Colborne. Jim Hoffman
• Stern view. Jim Hoffman
• The Brown from the Glendale Bridge. Jim Hoffman
• Stern view from the Glendale Bridge. Jim Hoffman
• Bow view passing south of the Welland Dock. David Bull
• Stern view. David Bull
• The John W. Brown passing through Bridge 1 in the Welland Canal. Trish Atwood.
• Approaching the Homer Bridge. Jim Hoffman
• The John W. Brown taking on a pilot at Port Colborne, the end of the Welland Canal. Jim Hoffman.
• Another view. Bruce Taylor.

Passing Brockville photos by Peter Carter.

• The John W. Brown underway.
• Stern view.

Passing through the Iroquois Lock photos by Peter Carter. 

• The John W. Brown underway.
• A closer view.
• The Brown entering the Iroquois Lock.
• A close up of the guns mounted on her bow.
• The ships superstructure.
• The crew can be seen operating the Brown from the open bridge on top of the superstructure.
• Close up of her stern guns.
• The Brown exits the lock.
• The John W. Brown sails on.

More Seaway views photos by Capt. Brian Hope (Chairman, Project Liberty Ship)

• Approaching Snell Lock.
• Entering the Bertrand H. Snell lock. 1500 hours
• In the Snell Lock.
• Canadian Flag at the Brown's foremast.
• Eisenhower Lock - Visitors Center.
• Eisenhower Lock - Visitors Center.
• Captain Paul Esbensen, Master of the JOHN W. BROWN, with St.Lawrence Seaway Pilot, Capt. Larry Hickey.
• Headquarters of the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. Eisenhower Lock.
• Ms. Carol Fenton, Director of Lock Operations, presents a flag to Captain Paul Esbensen, Master of the JOHN W. BROWN.
• Eisenhower Lock - 45 foot lift. May 24
• Approaching Iroquois Lock. May 24

In the Seaway by Bruno Boissonneault
Taken at St-Jean Ile d'Orléans (15 miles below Quebec City on May 22)

• Brown underway. 
• Containership OOCL Canada overtaking the Brown. 
• Bow view underway. At St-Laurent, Ile d'Orléans (2 miles upstream from St-Jean) 
• Side view

Passing through the Cap Cod Canal, Massachusetts photos by Richard Jenkins

• John W. Brown approaching the bridges in Bourne, shot from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
• John W. Brown passing under the railroad bridge in Bourne (stern shot).
• John W. Brown framed under the Bourne Bridge (stern shot).
• John W. Brown nearing the end of the canal.

Ready to depart Photos by Dave Aldworth and Brian Hope

• John W. Brown with steam up at her Baltimore dock.
• Sign on deck showing the departure time and destination