EDWIN H. GOTT sailed on her maiden voyage February 16, 1979, in ballast from Milwaukee, bound for Two Harbors, Minnesota. This was the first maiden voyage of a laker ever in mid-winter. She was in convoy with three of her fleet mates; CASON J. CALLAWAY, PHILIP R. CLARKE and JOHN G. MUNSON each needing assistance from the U.S.C.G.C. MACKINAW to break through heavy ice 12 to 14 inches thick the length of Lake Superior. The GOTT took part in a test project, primarily by U.S. Steel, to determine the feasibility of year around navigation.
JAMES E. FERRIS was launched February 16, 1910, as the ONTARIO (Hull#71) at Ecorse, Michigan by Great Lakes Engineering Works.
On February 16, 1977, a four-hour fire caused major damage to the crews’ forward quarters aboard the W.W. HOLLOWAY while at American Ship Building’s South Chicago yard.
February 16, 1939 – The state ferry CHIEF WAWATAM was fast in the ice in the Straits of Mackinac. She freed herself the next day and proceeded to St. Ignace.
The little tug JAMES ANDERSON burned on Long Lake near Alpena, Michigan, on the morning of 16 February 1883. Arson was suspected.
1943: WAR OSIRIS was built at Port Arthur, Ontario, now part of Thunder Bay, in 1918. It was mined and sunk as c) LISTO near Spodsbjerg, Denmark, while enroute from Larvik, Norway, to Emden, Germany, with iron ore.
Data from: Skip Gillham, Max Hanley, Joe Barr, Father Dowling Collection, Ahoy & Farewell II and the “Great Lakes Ships We Remember” series.
Sources
Great Lakes and Seaway Shipping – http://www.boatnerd.com/
* Noteworthy
1852 – Studebaker Brothers wagon company, precursor of the automobile manufacturer, is established.
1874 – Silver Dollar becomes legal US tender.
1923 – Howard Carter unseals the burial chamber of Pharaoh Tutankhamun.
1933 – The Blaine Act ends Prohibition in the United States.
1959 – Fidel Castro becomes Premier of Cuba after dictator Fulgencio Batista was overthrown on January 1.
1968 – In Haleyville, Alabama, the first 9-1-1 emergency telephone system goes into service.