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Langell Shipyard Walking Tour

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This is a contributing entry for Langell Shipyard Walking Tour and only appears as part of that tour.Learn More.

The tiles on this marker present an illustration of the wooden steamer OSCAR T. FLINT underway in the Great Lakes. At 218 feet in length, the OSCAR T. FLINT was one of larger boats built in the Langell Shipyard. It was launched in St. Clair’s Pine River in 1889 at nearly the height of the shipyard’s production and began serving in the lumber, coal, ore & grain trades. Seven years after her launching, the OSCAR T. FLINT was rebuilt, adding 8 feet to her depth and 269 net tons of cargo carrying capacity as a result of this increased depth. After being bought by Andrew W. Comstock and Alex Sinclair of Duluth, Minnesota, the OSCAR T. FLINT was “rebuilt” back to the boat’s original depth and cargo carrying capacity. The boat burned and sank on November 25, 1909 six miles west of Thunder Bay Island in Lake Huron.


OSCAR T. FLINT Marker #7

Plant, Rectangle, Naval architecture, Wood

OSCAR T. FLINT underway in Great Lakes

Water, Boat, Watercraft, Vehicle

OSCAR T. FLINT full power steaming

Water, Boat, Watercraft, Sky

At the Soo Locks

Sky, Cloud, Building, Window

Vessel Data

Vessel Name: OSCAR T. FLINT

Official Number: 155165

Rig: Propeller

Vessel Length: 218.00 feet

Vessel Width: 37.00 feet

Vessel Depth: 14.00 feet

Gross Tonnage: 823.96

Net Tonnage: 700.54

Hull Material: Wooden

Builder:  Simon Langell

Notes:

1889 – May, launched

1889 – June 10, enrolled Port Huron, MI; in lumber, coal, ore & grain trades

1896 – April 20, rebuilt Port Huron, MI (2 decks, length 218’, width 37’, 22’deep, gross tons 1,126.85, net tons 969.33)

1900 – chartered Northern Steam Ship Co.

1901 – October 8, grounded Bois Blanc, Lake Erie, released

1902 – March 25, owned Andrew W. Comstock & Alex Sinclair, Duluth, MN for $45,000.

1902 – August 11, rebuilt 1 deck, 3 masts, 823 gross tons, 700 net tons

1907 – March 5, owned Alex Sinclair, Duluth & Lillie Comstock, Detroit, MI

1909 – November 25, burned and sank six miles west of Thunder Bay Island, Lake Huron, with cargo of salt and stone.

Great Lakes Maritime Database and photo archives, Great Lakes Maritime Collection, Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library.  ““Shipbuilding in St. Clair,” Research Binder, Ships File Cabinet, St. Clair Historical Museum and Research Center archives

Image Sources(Click to expand)

St. Clair Historical Museum and Research Center

Great Lakes Maritime Database and photo archives, Great Lakes Maritime Collection, Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library.

St. Clair Historical Museum and Research Center

St. Clair Historical Museum and Research Center