1909 Alpena 1 1972
Steel Great Lakes self-unloading bulk freighter
Built at Wyandotte MI by Detroit Shipbuilding Co., Hull 177
Launched March 24, 1909
376’ LOA, 356’ LBP, 47’2” beam, 26’ depth
1 deck, arch cargo hold construction, hatches @ 12’, coal-fired boilers, quadruple expansion engine, 1400 IHP
Enrolled at Detroit MI April 24, 1909 (#47)
356.0 x 47.2 x 27.0, 2886 GT, 1787 NT US 206130 to:
Wyandotte Transportation Co., Detroit MI, a subsidiary of Michigan Alkali Co. (home port Wyandotte MI)
Entered service 1909
Sold 1965 to Erie Sand & Gravel Co., Erie PA (home port to Erie PA)
Boilers converted to oil firing 1966
Renamed Sidney E. Smith Jr. (1) 1968
Renamed Alpena 1972 (but did not operate under that name)
Sold for scrap 1972 to Dwor Metal Co., Port Colborne ON and scrapped at Port Colborne.
IMO 5012412
0903
My grandfather, John C. Broadwell, a native of Alpena, was captain of the Wyandotte Transportation SS Alpena from 1936-42. He was the grandson of Hilliard Broadwell, an early pioneer of Alpena, who settled in 1860.
Hello Robert My name is Mike Phillips I am an Alpena resident.
I own a non-profit company called Granite Gardens we restore tombstones in Alpena.
I’m very concerned about the Broadwell obelisk that is leaning and may fall sometime in the future. I wonder if I might speak to you about protecting this monument.
Our mantra is “We restore the monument and its stories below.
Please contact me so we may discuss this matter further and hopefully begin a monumental conclusion.
Mike Phillips
Granite Gardens
I was a deckhand on the Alpena for the summer of 1967. At the time, the boat was owned by the Erie Motorship Company and was skippered by Captian Joe Schnider. There seemed to be confusion about the name of this boat. Wikipedia thinks the boat was named the Leon Frasier; and, in 1992, was overhauled then renamed to be the Alpena. I’m now 77 years old; anybody out there who knows the real story please respond.
I was also on the SS Alpena, as an oiler, the summer of 1967. It was owned by the Erie Sand And Gravel Co. Most of our runs were from Toledo to Michigan and Canada with coal. We would bring back sand for Cleveland Building Supply (CBS).