SS Howard L. Shaw

Howard L. Shaw in Poe Lock
History
United States
Name	Howard L. Shaw
Operator	John Shaw Transit Company (1900-1901) Eddy Shaw Transit Company (a subsidiary of John Shaw Transit Company) (1901-1902) Donora Mining Company (a subsidiary of U.S. Steel) (1902-1904) Pittsburgh Steamship Company (1904-1940) Upper Lakes & St. Lawrence Transportation Company (1940-1969)
Port of registry	United States, Port Huron, Michigan 1900-1902 Duluth, Minnesota 1902-1940 Toronto, Ontario 1940-1969
Builder	Detroit Shipbuilding Company, Wyandotte, Michigan
Yard number	136
Launched	September 15, 1900
Completed	1900
In service	1900
Out of service	1969
Identification	U.S. Registry #96524
Fate	Sunk as a breakwater at Ontario Place
General characteristics
Class and type	Bulk Freighter
Tonnage	4,901 gross 3,802 net
Length	451 ft (137 m)
Beam	50 ft (15 m)
Height	28 ft (8.5 m)
Installed power	2 x Scotch marine boilers
Propulsion	1,150 horsepower triple expansion steam engine attached to a single fixed pitch propeller
Speed	10 knots
Notes	The Shaw was the last vessel to see the ill-fated John Owen

Howard L. Shaw was a 451-foot (137 m) long propeller driven freighter that operated on the Great Lakes of North America from her launching in 1900 to her retirement 1969. She is currently serving as a breakwater in Ontario Place on Lake Ontario.

History

Howard L. Shaw was built by the Detroit Shipbuilding Company of Wyandotte, Michigan. She was launched on 15 September 1900 as hull #136. she began service on 2 October 1900. On 1 November 1900, Howard L. Shaw loaded 260,000 bushels of flax in Duluth, Minnesota which was a new port record. The cost of the cargo was valued at $468,000.

In 1902 Howard L. Shaw was purchased by U.S. Steel. In 1904 Howard L. Shaw was transferred to the Pittsburgh Steamship Company. On 25 May 1906 Howard L. Shaw passed between the cable connecting the steamer Coralia and her barge Maia which raked the deck of spars and the smokestack.

Howard L. Shaw after her accident in 1906

Howard L. Shaw ran aground after the collision. Howard L. Shaw was the last vessel to see the wooden steamer John Owen on 12 November 1919 before she was lost in a storm on Lake Superior. In 1922 Howard L. Shaw's hull was reconstructed with arch frames by the Toledo Shipbuilding Company of Toledo, Ohio, while in Toledo she also had her old boilers replaced by brand new Scotch marine boilers. On 26 April 1926, Howard L. Shaw ran aground in Mud Lake while downbound from the St. Marys River.

Canadian registry

Howard L. Shaw was sold to the Upper Lakes & St. Lawrence Transportation Company (renamed Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd. in 1959) in late 1940 (her Canadian identification was C172356). On 13 December 1958 Howard L. Shaw while downbound was stuck in ice delaying eleven other freighters. On 6 September 1963 Howard L. Shaw was dynamited in Chicago, Illinois because of a labor dispute between American and Canadian labor unions. The explosion blew a 2-foot (0.61 m) hole in the port side of the vessel. The ship was later towed to Chicago, Illinois for repairs. Howard L. Shaw was tied up at a pier since 22 April.

Breakwater

Howard L. Shaw (middle) between Houghton (right) and Victorius (left)

Howard L. Shaw was sold to the Toronto Harbor Commissioners. On 4 July 1969 she was sunk as a breakwater at Ontario Place along with her fleet mates the steamers Douglas Houghton and Victorius. All three vessels remain in Ontario Place as of 2020.