You may have noticed on the harborcams a lonely looking pilothouse located on the end of the Duluth Timber Pier near Pier B.
(the following information was provided by Capt. Tom Mackay and Capt. Edward Montgomery)
The IRVIN L. CLYMER was built in 1917 at the American Ship Building Company in Lorain, Ohio. She had a crew of 16. She was 552 feet long with a 60 ft. beam and a 32 ft. draft. Launched as the self-unloader CARL D. BRADLEY (1) for the Great Lakes Fleet, she made her maiden voyage from Lorain Ohio to Calcite MI on June 10, 1917 for a load of stone. She sailed under that name until 1927 when she was renamed JOHN G. MUNSON (1). In 1951 she was again renamed, IRVIN L. CLYMER. She was scrapped at Azcon in Duluth in 1994, when the pilothouse was salvaged by a private party and unloaded at the end of the Duluth Timber Pier where it sits today. Duluth was the Clymer’s home port for many years and had a nickname of the "Whiner Clymer"
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| Photo: courtesy of boatnerds.com |
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| Photo: courtesy of boatnerds.com |
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| Irvin L Clymer - Dennis O'Hara |
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| Irvin L Clymer - Dennis O'Hara |
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| Irvin L Clymer - Dennis O'Hara |
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| Irvin L Clymer - Dennis O'Hara |
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| Irvin L Clymer - Dennis O'Hara |
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| Irvin L Clymer - Dennis O'Hara |
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| Irvin L Clymer - Dennis O'Hara |
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| Irvin L Clymer - Dennis O'Hara |
Thanks for sharing that information. I have always wondered what the story was behind it. Please share other historic information it is very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks again!
Thank you for the pictorial tour.
ReplyDeletetoo bad whoever owns it didn't keep it up,looks big enough to live in.
ReplyDeleteIt has been saved by the crew of the Sundew. Take a look next time your nearby.
DeleteIt may sound a bit foolish but, I'm just glad she "died" here , at the hands of American workers, in Duluth, rather than getting dragged to some yard in Greece.
ReplyDeleteOh, so sad. That would make a great little house! -RI boatgal
ReplyDeleteThanks for the bit of history, and a much closer look. I wish when I was visiting Duluth I could figure out how to get to such things, and if it is OK to drive on those properties.
ReplyDeleteJeff from North Freedom
PS I am happy to say that we are able to make a short trip to Duluth in September. I'll be arriving on Sunday, late day, the 9th and head home the 13th.
I actually thought that was an old house looking at the Harbor Cam! Thank you Denis for the tour and history.
ReplyDeleteDennis since you started the Harbor cam I have wondered what that house was at the end of the pier. Thank you so much for explaining what it is and it's history. I really enjoyed the photos although I felt sad to see what shape the pilot house is in. I also, have wanted to go down in that area where the pilot house is. I don't know either how to get there or if you can. Again, thank you for the information.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the interesting story behind the pilothouse and the great, great photos.
ReplyDeleteSylvia
Yes that was interesting, though I admit I did not realize that was what I was looking at for many months.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is too bad it is sitting there rusting away.
Hi Den!
ReplyDeleteGreat Info! Just curious... is that area open or is it private property? Thx!
That radio finder would snag a good price on the antique market... just sayin'.
ReplyDeleteIrvin L. Clymer was my great-grandfather! (The namesake, not the ship.) I'll have to go out to Duluth someday and see this in person. Thanks for the photos!
ReplyDeleteI worked for U.S. Steel Great Lakes Fleet and I sailed on the Irvin L. Clymer in 1989 and when we laid it up in Duluth, MN in 1990 (11/8/1990 - I have my US Coast Guard Discharge documents).
ReplyDeleteI actually made a video of the last voyage from loading stone in Calcite (Rogers City,MI which was my home town) and unload it in Duluth, MN.
I've often wondered what became of it. Thank you for the information.
Hi Unknown, If you can receive my reply, I'd love to have a copy of that video or any other pictures you might have of the Clymer. My husband and I now own the pilothouse and the all-volunteer crew of the Sundew has worked very hard at painting and some rehab on the pilothouse. We would love to know any of its history you may care to share. My email is tonifladmark@y*h**.com
DeleteI wish when folks buy these artifacts that they put them to use right away, instead of letting them deteriorate. Would be a great addition to someone's waterfront lot.
ReplyDelete