Goodrich Transit Line or Goodrich Steamship Line or Goodrich Transportation Company or Goodrich Transit Company was a passenger steamship line operating in the Great Lakes region, principally in Lake Michigan in the 19th and early 20th century.
The line was founded in 1868 by Albert Edgar Goodrich (born ca. 1825-1826, Buffalo, New York — 1885).[1][2]
Goodrich merged in April 1868 with the Engelmann line, run by Nathan and Michael Engelmann.[3]
The line leased the S.S. Christopher Columbus in 1899 and operated it Chicago-Milwaukee excursion service for more than 30 years.[1] Many other ships were operated including the Menominee, Muskegon, Chicago, and Milwaukee (many of the ships were named after cities serviced).
Goodrich was involved in controversy. More than one Goodrich vessel was lost due to shipwreck. The SS Alpena was lost in October 1880 en route from Grand Haven, Michigan to Chicago, Illinois, and a subsequent investigation took the company to task for poor equipment condition and poorly trained crew.[4]
On February 4, 1915, the steamer Iowa (built in 1896 on the hull of the Menominee), on its way to the Port of Chicago with the Racine (belonging to Chicago Racine & Milwaukee Steamship Company), sent a radio message at 4:15 a.m., as she was about three miles out, that she had encountered heavy ice. The ice was especially bad that winter with ice freezing up to 25 miles from the port. She had been doing okay, under the command of Gerald E. Stufflebeam, as she approached the ice clogged harbor, until the wind shifted then she was crushed by the ice at 10:00 a.m. As the Iowa sank about two miles out, the 1 passenger and 45 crew left the ship and took refuge on the ice. They started walking toward Chicago as rescuers headed to meet them, including city tugboats.[6]
Goodrich went bankrupt in 1933 and its operations ceased permanently.[7]
ReferencesEdit
^ ab"Biography of A. E. Goodrich". History of the Great Lakes. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
^"Goodrich, Albert Edgar 1826 - 1885". - Dictionary of Wisconsin History. - Wisconsin Historical Society.
^Hilton, George Woodman (2002). - Lake Michigan Passenger Steamers. - Palo Alto, California: Stanford University Press. - p.296. - ISBN978-0-8047-4240-5.
^"Sailing In A Rotten Steamer". Oswego Palladium. January 5, 1881. Retrieved 2008-02-07..
^justia.com. "Vol 224: ICC V. GOODRICH TRANSIT CO., 224 U. S. 194 (1912)". Justia.com - U.S. Supreme Court Center - US Supreme Court Cases & Opinions. Retrieved 2008-02-07. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
^"ICE SINKS LAKE STEAMER.; Crew of 45 and a Passenger Make Their Way Over Floes to Shore". - New York Times. - February 5, 1915. —Hilton. - p.265,287.
^Ewing, Walter K. (1999). A Chronological Directory Of Industries, Businesses, And Other Organizations In Northwest Ottawa County 1808-1975(PDF). Grand Haven, Michigan: Tri-Cities Historical Museum. ISBN0-9652300-2-3. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
Further readingEdit
Red stacks over the horizon; story of the Goodrich Steamship Line. by James L. Elliott. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1967.
August 28, 2023
goodrich, transportation, company, goodrich, transit, line, goodrich, steamship, line, goodrich, transit, company, passenger, steamship, line, operating, great, lakes, region, principally, lake, michigan, 19th, early, 20th, century, alpenathe, whaleback, steam. Goodrich Transit Line or Goodrich Steamship Line or Goodrich Transportation Company or Goodrich Transit Company was a passenger steamship line operating in the Great Lakes region principally in Lake Michigan in the 19th and early 20th century The AlpenaThe whaleback steamer S S Christopher Columbus at the Goodrich docks in Chicago Illinois stern view History EditThe line was founded in 1868 by Albert Edgar Goodrich born ca 1825 1826 Buffalo New York 1885 1 2 Goodrich merged in April 1868 with the Engelmann line run by Nathan and Michael Engelmann 3 The line leased the S S Christopher Columbus in 1899 and operated it Chicago Milwaukee excursion service for more than 30 years 1 Many other ships were operated including the Menominee Muskegon Chicago and Milwaukee many of the ships were named after cities serviced Goodrich was involved in controversy More than one Goodrich vessel was lost due to shipwreck The SS Alpena was lost in October 1880 en route from Grand Haven Michigan to Chicago Illinois and a subsequent investigation took the company to task for poor equipment condition and poorly trained crew 4 The line was involved in a case versus the Interstate Commerce Commission in 1912 ICC v Goodrich Transit Co 224 U S 194 1912 which went all the way to the United States Supreme Court 5 On February 4 1915 the steamer Iowa built in 1896 on the hull of the Menominee on its way to the Port of Chicago with the Racine belonging to Chicago Racine amp Milwaukee Steamship Company sent a radio message at 4 15 a m as she was about three miles out that she had encountered heavy ice The ice was especially bad that winter with ice freezing up to 25 miles from the port She had been doing okay under the command of Gerald E Stufflebeam as she approached the ice clogged harbor until the wind shifted then she was crushed by the ice at 10 00 a m As the Iowa sank about two miles out the 1 passenger and 45 crew left the ship and took refuge on the ice They started walking toward Chicago as rescuers headed to meet them including city tugboats 6 Goodrich went bankrupt in 1933 and its operations ceased permanently 7 References Edit a b Biography of A E Goodrich History of the Great Lakes Retrieved 2008 02 06 Goodrich Albert Edgar 1826 1885 Dictionary of Wisconsin History Wisconsin Historical Society Hilton George Woodman 2002 Lake Michigan Passenger Steamers Palo Alto California Stanford University Press p 296 ISBN 978 0 8047 4240 5 Sailing In A Rotten Steamer Oswego Palladium January 5 1881 Retrieved 2008 02 07 justia com Vol 224 ICC V GOODRICH TRANSIT CO 224 U S 194 1912 Justia com U S Supreme Court Center US Supreme Court Cases amp Opinions Retrieved 2008 02 07 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a External link in code class cs1 code author code help ICE SINKS LAKE STEAMER Crew of 45 and a Passenger Make Their Way Over Floes to Shore New York Times February 5 1915 Hilton p 265 287 Ewing Walter K 1999 A Chronological Directory Of Industries Businesses And Other Organizations In Northwest Ottawa County 1808 1975 PDF Grand Haven Michigan Tri Cities Historical Museum ISBN 0 9652300 2 3 Retrieved 2008 02 07 Further reading EditRed stacks over the horizon story of the Goodrich Steamship Line by James L Elliott Grand Rapids MI Eerdmans 1967 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Goodrich Transportation Company amp oldid 993306039, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
