43°33′N79°35′W / 43.550°N 79.583°W /43.550; -79.583
 The steamerWilliam E. Corey after her launch | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Namesake | William Ellis Corey |
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry |  United States,Fairport, Michigan |
| Builder | Chicago Shipbuilding Company |
| Yard number | 67 |
| Launched | 24 June 1905 |
| Completed | 28 July 1905 |
| In service | 12 August 1905 |
| Identification | U.S. Registry #202296 |
| Fate | Sunk as abreakwater outsideMississauga,Ontario |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Bulk freighter |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 569 ft (173 m) |
| Beam | 56 ft (17 m) |
| Height | 31 ft (9.4 m) |
| Installed power | 2×Scotch marine boilers |
| Propulsion | 1,800horsepower (1,300 kW)triple expansion steam engine attached to a single fixed pitchpropeller |
| Speed | 10 knots |
| Crew | 29 |
SSWilliam E. Corey is a steel-hulled propeller-drivenGreat Lakes freighter that had a lengthy career on theGreat Lakes. She served from her launching in 1905 to her conversion to a breakwater in 1970.
William E. Corey was a product of the Chicago Shipbuilding Company ofChicago, Illinois.William E. Corey waslaunched on June 24, 1905, as hull number #67. The laker was one of four almost identical vessels;Elbert H. Gary andWilliam E. Corey were both launched in Chicago,Henry C. Frick launched inWest Bay City, Michigan andGeorge W. Perkins launched inSuperior, Wisconsin. All four vessels were the largest on the lakes at the time of their launch, hence the unofficial title "Queen of the Lakes".
Shortly after her launch the brand newWilliam E. Corey encountered one of the worst storms in Great Lakes history, theMataafa Storm of 1905. On November 28,William E. Corey was driven hard aground ontoGull Island Reef in theApostle Islands. During a very short period of time the temperatures dropped to −12 °F (−24 °C) and the winds reached hurricane force. After the stormWilliam E. Corey was refloated on December 10, 1905.[1]
Over the next fifty three yearsWilliam E. Corey changed hands many times until in 1963 she was sold to theUpper Lakes Shipping Company and renamedRidgetown.[2] The ship served for seven more years until in May 1970 when she was scuttled as a temporarybreakwater atNanticoke, Ontario in the summer. It was later refloated in 1973. On June 21, 1974 she was scuttled as a breakwater atMississauga,Ontario.[3][4]
