SS William G. Mather (1925)

Edit links
Coordinates: 41°30′34″N 81°41′53″W / 41.50931°N 81.69808°W / 41.50931; -81.69808
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other ships with the same name, see SS William G. Mather.

Cleveland, Ohio
, in 2006
History
United States
NameSS William G. Mather
NamesakeWilliam G. Mather
Owner
Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company
Operator
Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company
BuilderGreat Lakes Engineering Works, Ecorse, Michigan
LaunchedMay 23, 1925
In service1925
Out of service1980
Homeport
Cleveland, Ohio
IdentificationIMO number: 5390577
StatusMuseum ship
General characteristics
TypeLake freighter
Tonnage8,662 GRT
Length618 ft (188 m)
Beam62 ft (19 m)
Draft32 ft 10 in (10.01 m)
Propulsion
  • Coal-fired
    quadruple expansion steam engine
    (1925)
  • DeLaval oil-fired steam turbine (1954)
  • 5,000 shp (3,728 kW)
Capacity14,000 tonnes of cargo
Crew
  • 37 (1925–1964)
  • 29 (1965–1980)

The SS William G. Mather (Official Number 224850) is a retired

Cleveland, Ohio, one of five in the Great Lakes region. She transported cargo such as ore, coal, stone, and grain to ports throughout the Great Lakes, and was nicknamed "The Ship That Built Cleveland" because Cleveland's steel mills were a frequent destination.[a]

History

It was built in 1925 by

MV Kaye E. Barker of the Interlake Steamship Company
fleet) was built in 1951–52. It remained an active part of the Cliffs' fleet until the end of the 1980 navigation season.

In order to supply the

Cleveland, Ohio
.

In 1985, Cleveland-Cliffs sold its two remaining operating steamers to

Great Lakes Historical Society to be restored and preserved as a museum ship and floating maritime museum. After it was brought to Cleveland in October 1988 and funding was acquired from local foundations, corporations, and individuals, restoration began. Fire damage to SS William G. Mather's galley and after cabin spaces required a major restoration effort. All over the vessel, most of the work was supplied by volunteers who repaired, cleaned, chipped, painted, and polished brass in order to restore SS William G. Mather's former elegance. In October 1990, it was moved to its permanent berth at the East Ninth Street Pier on Cleveland's North Coast Harbor
.

In September 1994 the Great Lakes Historical Society divested itself of the museum. Due, in large part, to a groundswell of local support to keep the Mather in Cleveland, the Harbor Heritage Society was created to negotiate a new lease agreement with the city. Incorporated in June 1995, Harbor Heritage formally acquired SS William G. Mather on July 22, 1995, and in 1996 continued to oversee William G. Mather's ongoing restoration, promotion, and development as a historic vessel. After ten years of negotiations, the City of Cleveland, represented by Mayor Jane L. Campbell signed a 40-year lease on June 15, 2003, allowing William G. Mather to stay at its East 9th Street berth.

On July 30, 1995 the steamship SS William G. Mather was dedicated as an

National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark for its 1954 installation of a single marine boiler and steam turbine engine, its 1964 installation of the Bailey 760 Boiler Control System and American Shipbuilding AmThrust dual propeller bow thruster—all firsts for U.S.-flagged Great Lakes vessels. It had a sister ship of the same class, SS Joseph H. Frantz, which was later converted to diesel, and was scrapped
in 2005 after 80 years of continuous use.

  • A front view of the maritime museum
    A front view of the maritime museum
  • Interior view of cabin aboard SS William G. Mather Maritime Museum
    Interior view of cabin aboard SS William G. Mather Maritime Museum

Current location

On September 24, 2005, the museum was moved from the East Ninth Street Pier to Dock 32, just west of the East Ninth Street Pier, closer to the Great Lakes Science Center and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[1][2]

In October 2006, SS William G. Mather was acquired by the Great Lakes Science Center. Today, the ship is a focal point for interpreting the relationship between technology, history, commerce, and the environment.

See also

Notes

  1. Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company had another vessel named SS William G. Mather (O.N. 202542) in their fleet, also built by Great Lakes Engineering Works
    . This former SS William G. Mather was renamed SS J. H. Sheadle in 1925, and SS H. L. Gobeille in 1955. After she had been sold to Gartland Steamship Co. she was renamed SS Nicolet in 1965.

References

  1. ^ Google (September 14, 2006). "Steamship William G. Mather" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved September 14, 2006.
  2. ^ "Mather Tugged to New Dock". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, OH. September 25, 2005.

External links

41°30′34″N 81°41′53″W / 41.50931°N 81.69808°W / 41.50931; -81.69808

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SS_William_G._Mather_(1925)&oldid=1121890048"