Boatnerd Discussion Forum

She was to ripe an worn out from what i heard

Why was the McCullough found to be unfit for conversion to a cement carrier? Was it just overall condition?

Laid up at Manitowoc in 1970, and in service for Medusa in 1974.

The McCullough did indeed make a trip to Toronto in late 1973. She passed down the Welland Canal on November 9, 1973 with soybeans for Victory Mills. She departed Toronto upbound on November 12th.

I could have my ships mixed up but I believe in late 1973 I was on the C.H. McCoullough Jr. for a grain load to Hamilton and also a grain load to Toronto. The unloads took a couple days so I had time up the street. I believe that was the ship with a hand lever to pump up air pressure for the air start on the hatch crane diesel. A long time ago.

In 1969 and 1970 she was chartered to Roen Steamship Cpmpany, but was carrying iron ore pellets for Pickands and Mathe from Escanaba to Youngstown Sheet and Tube in Indiana Harbor. In 1971, Interlake Steamship sold her to Medusa Portland Cement Com.'s subsidiary, Cement Transit.

From 1971 to 1974 she operated in the iron ore and grain trades. Not sure if she operated in 1975. There was talk of her operating in the grain trade that year, but with the severe recession of 1974-74 still underway I doubt she operated that year.

Interestingly, on one of her trips in 1974 she carried grain as far as Montreal.

Does anyone know what trade routes on which Medusa used the steamer C. H. McCullough Jr. in the bulk trades following its purchase for a cement conversion during the mid-1970s? I have seen a picture of it arriving at Cleveland in an old Namesakes book and was wondering if work in the ore trade was under some type of charter or did Medusa actively engage in the movement of ore at the time? The picture clearly shows the vessel with Medusa stack markings. The McCullough Jr. was later found to be unfit for conversion to a cement carrier and sold for scrap. After Medusa acquired the Steelton in 1978 it entered into a charter agreement that resulted in Cleveland Cliffs operating that vessel during 1979.