Old Photos Detroit waterfront

[William Lafferty]

It became a tourist attraction and eventually found a route on the lakes and stayed that way for 10 years or so before she was abandoned near Cleveland. Then in the 1930s they took her out for 4th of July and set the rotting hull ablaze as a public spectacle.

Success ended up at Sandusky in 1944 for dismantling. It had been exhibited there in 1938 and was laid up at Cleveland when the exigencies of the war demanded it be moved to free up dock space there, and it was moored at the Hunt Coal Company dock at Sandusky. A storm swamped it in March 1943 and it ended up on its beam ends. It laid in that state until a salvage company from Detroit raised it in August 1945 to be brought to Detroit for rebuilding but instead it was sold to Walter Kolbe of Port Clinton. He tried to take it into Port Clinton but the water was too low and it was left abandoned a half mile off Port Clinton. It was destroyed by arson fire on 4 July 1946. Here's the Success derelict at Sandusky and after the fire at Port Clinton.

[Jared]

The Success was a cargo vessel built in the 1840s that was converted for use to transport convicts to the British penal colony of Australia. It made two voyages transporting them and then was converted back to cargo use. Somehow it stayed afloat and profitable in an era where steam replaced sail and by the 20th century it was probably the last sea going merchantman from that era on the high seas. The Success still retained some of its features from hauling prisoners such as barred brigs and dozens of chain cuffs were still attached to the hull. It became a tourist attraction and eventually found a route on the lakes and stayed that way for 10 years or so before she was abandoned near Cleveland. Then in the 1930s they took her out for 4th of July and set the rotting hull ablaze as a public spectacle.

[William Lafferty]

What was the 'Convict Ship'? Did it actually have to do with transporting convicts, or some sort of floating amusement attraction, or what?

Here is the advertisement that appeared in the Detroit newspapers in 1924 "explaining" the vessel and its notoriety:

[Cistom500]

What was the 'Convict Ship'? Did it actually have to do with transporting convicts, or some sort of floating amusement attraction, or what?

[William Lafferty]

The Success sat at Detroit 9 June 1924-10 August 1924. On 4 August 1924 an advertisement in the Detroit Free Press breathlessly announced "When she sails she will never return." It reappeared at at the Belle Isle bridge in August 1927. I believe the photograph shows its 1924 visit, with the Belle Isle of 1914, then operated by John Kiley, astern.

[Guest]

Found some old 3x4 negatives in boxes from my parent's house taken in the 1920s. This one is of Grenada Park (also known as Electric Park) in Detroit. It shows the "Convict Ship" docked there. Thought some might find it interesting.

Convict Ship Grenada Park Detroit.jpg

Very cool! Taken from the Belle Isle bridge I assume?

[Guest]

Found some old 3x4 negatives in boxes from my parent's house taken in the 1920s. This one is of Grenada Park (also known as Electric Park) in Detroit. It shows the "Convict Ship" docked there. Thought some might find it interesting.