Wolvin, Augustus B.

1904                                  Augustus B. Wolvin                                  1967

Steel Great Lakes bulk freighter

Built at Lorain OH by American Ship Building Co., Hull 330
Launched April 9, 1904
Longest vessel on the Great Lakes (until Gary class of 1905 – superseded Gates class of 1900).
First vessel with arch cargo hold construction and with steel telescoping hatch covers (replacing wooden hatch covers).

560’ LOA, 540’ LBP, 56’ beam, 32’ depth
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, hatches @ 12’, coal-fired boilers, quadruple expansion engine, 2000 IHP

Enrolled at Cleveland OH May 9, 1904 (#84)
540.0 x 56.0 x 32.0, 6585 GT, 5311 NT     US 200883     to:
American Ship Building Co., Cleveland OH (home port Cleveland OH)

Reenrolled at Duluth MN May 17, 1904 (#151) to:
Acme Steamship Co., Duluth MN, A. B. Wolvin, Mgr (home port to Duluth MN)

Fleet sold 1913 to Lackawanna Steamship Co., Cleveland OH, Pickands Mather & Co., Mgr. (home port to Fairport OH)
Fleet renamed Interlake Steamship Co.

Home port to Wilmington DE 1932

Hatches rebuilt 1946 to 24’ centers and hatch crane at Ashtabula OH by Great Lakes Engineering Works
Remeasured to 6988 GT, 6057 NT

Remeasured 1950 to 7403 GT, 6474 NT

Boilers converted to oil firing early 1950s

Laid up 1961-1966 seasons at Erie PA

Transferred 1966 to Canadian affiliate Labrador Steamship Co., Montreal QC (home port to Montreal QC).
Enrolled Canadian at 547.4 x 56.2 x 28.7, 8316 GT, 5395 NT     Can 326401

Scraped bank in Welland Canal June 1967 and suffered extensive bottom damage.  Declared constructive total loss at Port Weller and towed to Hamilton ON.  Sold for scrap to Marine Salvage Inc., Port Colborne ON.  Resold to Spanish shipbreakers and towed down St. Lawrence Seaway in August.  Arrived at Santander Spain Sept 24, 1967 under tow with str. Saskadoc.

See history in Scanner Midsummer 2004 (#286)
Also in Great Lakes Ships We Remember II p. 419

 

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9 thoughts on “Wolvin, Augustus B.

  1. My Greatgrandfather, Frederick Loeffel, was a chef on the Augustus B. Wolvin, but unfortunately I have no idea what year(s). Is there any way to find out the names of the members of the crew(s)???

    • I only have appointment lists of captains and chief engineers for most years but one possibility to get what you want is to post your question on a discussion group sponsored by boatnerd.com. It’s a long shot but there just might possibly be someone out there who has the information.

      Sterling Berry

  2. My grandfather, Captain John Tower, was Master of the Interlake ship SS AB Wolvin for certain from 1914 to 1927 and maybe after. I believe he was also Master of the A B Wolvin in 1913, the first year of Interlake Steamship Company, and prior to 1913 as well but cannot yet verify that. Prior to the Wolvin he was master of the Pv steamer SS Frank T. Heffelfinger starting in the 1906 season (and sailed her to Europe). Can you verify when he got command of the Wolvin? Thanks very much.

    • I am in Florida at the moment, not returning home till late March. Since all my research records are up north, have patience and I’ll try to get the answer to your question as soon as I can.

      Sterling Berry

    • I have an original photo from 1904 please contact me if you’re interested. 707-357-5998. My name is DEB leave me a message about the photo.

  3. My dad’s certificate of discharge shows him on the Augustus B Wolvin 200883 Erie Pa. 4/30 1940; 4/3 1941; 3/24 1942; wheels mam, Great Lakes.
    Signed A. E. Olsen
    By chance do you show anything on him?
    Sincerely, tom walter

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