Willis B. Boyer is a lake freighter which served as a commercial vessel on the Great Lakes for much of the 20th Century, and is currently undergoing renovation as a museum ship in Toledo, Ohio.
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The steamship Willis B Boyer began life on July 1, 1911 in Detroit as the SS Col James Schoonmaker. At the time of her launch she took the title of Queen of the Lakes which is given to the biggest ship on the Great Lakes. She became the flagship of the Shenango Furnace Company. She broke many cargo records for iron ore, grain and coal in her first year. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine which was later replaced by a steam turbine in 1955. She sailed as part of the Shenango's fleet until 1969 when she was sold to the Interlake Steamship Co who chartered the Schoonmaker to the Republic Steel Corporation. After a three year charter to that company Interlake decided to sell her to the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co. They operated the laker for 7 years in the iron trade until she was laid up in 1980 due to a downturn in the steel industry which she served. After sitting unwanted for 7 years the city of Toledo decided to purchase her for use as a museum. She sits as the centerpiece of the International Park in that city. She still sits there undergoing a major renovation but still waiting for people to tour her.
The Willis B Boyer is 613 feet long overall. She has a beam of 64 feet and a depth of 34 feet. Her carrying capacity is 15,500 gross tons. A unique feature of the ship is inside her pilothouse. She was one of the few ships on the Great Lakes to have a twin steering wheels. The starboard is the main wheel while the other was an auxiliary. As the flagship of the company for many years she was fitted with many features a normal laker would not have. She was fitted with 5 luxury guest suites in the bow of the ship. She also carried a guest lounge and dining room for their comfort.
On December 17th, 2009 the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority Board of Directors authorized a Memorandum of Understanding with the Great Lakes Historical Society of Vermilion, OH for the creation of the National Great Lakes Maritime Museum at the Toledo Maritime Center. It is presently anticipated that the S.S. Willis B. Boyer will travel to the Toledo Shipyard for dry-docking/restoration during the fall of 2010 for a return to International Park the following spring. While the vessel will require a subsequent move to the Toledo Maritime Center in 2012 she will be restored to her original condition namesake and Shenango Furnace regalia for her Centennial Celebration and re-christening to be held on July 1st, 2011.