Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Carus Collection |
Accession # |
P82-37-12-160 |
Description |
Black and white photograph of carferry CHIEF WAWATAM. Close up starboard bow view of the car ferry at dock in 1935. |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Date |
1935 |
Vessel Info |
Vessel name: CHIEF WAWATAM Official number: 209235 (Canada - 805396) Other names: CHIEF WAWATAM (1989) Canada Build date: 1911 Builder: Toledo Ship Building Company Place of build: Toledo, OH Dimensions: 338.66 x 62.00 x 20.58 Gross Tonnage: 2990.00 Vessel Rig: Propeller Rebuild info: Boilers renovated in 1965 at Manitowoc Ship Building Company, Manitowoc, WI. Engines removed and vessel converted from a railroad car ferry to a barge in1989. Ownership changes: Mackinac Transportation Co. (1911-1977) State of Michigan (Dept. of Highways & Transportation) (1977-1989) Purvis Marine (1989) Other history: The last hand-fired coal-burning boat on the Great Lakes. Possibly the first boat to carry cars across the Straits, in 1917. In late 1960s, towed by tug MUSKEGON; earlier towed by tug JOHN PURVES. Operated by Straits Car Ferry Corp., under lease from State of MI, beginning in 1977. In 1990, the vessel's forward triple expansion engine was acquired by the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, WI, restored to working condition in 2001 and installed as a permanent exhibit in 2002. Disposition: Scrapped in 2009. |
Other number |
Volume L |
Size of original |
8" x 10" |
Search Terms |
car ferry carferry CHIEF WAWATAM |
Credit line |
Carus Collection Donated by Henry N. Barkhausen |
Provenance |
Materials in this collection were collected and compiled by Great Lakes ship captain Edward Carus of Manitowoc over a period of more than 50 years. Captain Carus began his career on the Great Lakes sailing on schooners and spent many years as a captain for the Goodrich Line before retiring. During his career, he researched and recorded the maritime heritage of the areas where he sailed, particularly the western shore of Lake Michigan. Captain Carus worked for ten years with Edwin Schuette, also from Manitowoc, and Mr. Schuette also contributed to the collection. In 1937, Captain Carus had fallen on hard times, his wife was bedridden and they were in need of money. Although Captain Carus desired his extensive collection to stay in Manitowoc, neither the City of Manitowoc nor Mr. Schuette was willing to purchase it at the time. Instead, Henry N. Barkhausen purchased it and kept it in his personal collection for more than 40 years before donating it to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in 1981, returning it to Manitowoc. Edwin Schuette passed his portion of the collection to his son, Henry Schuette, who then donated his portion to the museum in 1981 as well. |