On August 22, 1906, the DANIEL J. MORRELL was launched at West Bay City, Mich., by the West Bay City Shipbuilding Co. for the Cambria Steamship Company of the M. A. Hanna Company.  It was a busy week for Great Lakes shipping.  Just days before the MORRELL, the Chicago Shipbuilding Company launched at South Chicago the steamer NORMAN B. REAM (renamed KINSMAN ENTERPRISE in 1965) for the Pittsburg Steamship Company and the Superior Shipbuilding Company launched the EDWARD Y. TOWNSEND at Superior also for the Cambria Steamship Company.   They were all called 600 footers.

            The enrollment document for the MORRELL dated September 18, 1906, at Cleveland, Ohio, noted the Cambria Steamship Company of Mentor, Ohio as her owner and J. S. Ashley as her master.  Her measurements on the enrollment are 580 feet in length, 58 feet in beam and 27.4 in draft.

            She sailed for Cambria under the M. A. Hanna Company until 1929 and then for Cambria under the Bethlehem Transportation Company until 1962.  After that she was part of the Great Lakes Division of Bethlehem Steel.  She carried bulk cargoes mainly iron ore.  She was a good worker and did her job well.  Her career received very little press … until her end.

            The MORRELL was sailing to Taconite Harbor, Minn. on the night of November 28, 1966, on Lake Huron when she faced a raging November storm with winds around 70 mph and swells of 20-25 feet.  About 2 am the next morning, when about 26 miles northeast of Harbor Beach, Mich., she broke in two and sank.   Of her 29 crew, the only survivor was watchman Dennis Hale.

            The MORRELL is actually two dive sites.   The stern part is about four miles from the bow.  She sits upright and intact in water ranging from 130 – 200 feet in depth.  Life boats are still on her side.

Suzette Lopez

PHOTOS:

DANIEL J. MORRELL at Soo, Mich., Hay Lake Cut and Lookout POSTED HERE

DANIEL J. MORRELL dated September 1937. 

DANIEL J. MORRELL sailing for the Bethlehem Transportation Corporation

DANIEL J. MORRELL aerial view

DANIEL J. MORRELL nameboard located in Milwaukee’s Central Library, July 2021.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library and Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.