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- Launching the Green Island Freighter at the Great Lakes Engineering Works, Ecorse, Michigan, May 1937 - Ford Motor Company launched the MS <em>Green Island</em> in 1937. The 300-foot vessel was part of a fleet that carried raw material, auto parts and other goods to and from Ford's mines, mills and factories. <em>Green Island</em>, with its low twelve-foot draft, was one of the longest ships to move through the New York State Barge Canal system.
- May 15, 1937
- Collections - Artifact
Launching the Green Island Freighter at the Great Lakes Engineering Works, Ecorse, Michigan, May 1937
Ford Motor Company launched the MS Green Island in 1937. The 300-foot vessel was part of a fleet that carried raw material, auto parts and other goods to and from Ford's mines, mills and factories. Green Island, with its low twelve-foot draft, was one of the longest ships to move through the New York State Barge Canal system.
- Report of Marine Casualty or Accident for Sunken Ford Freighter "East Indian," February 15, 1943 - The United States government requisitioned the Ford Motor Company's ocean-going freighter <em>East Indian</em> for wartime service. Newly fitted with anti-submarine and anti-aircraft guns, the freighter left for the Indian Ocean in May 1942. As the <em>East Indian</em> returned to America, the ship was sunk by a German U-boat. Four lifeboats with survivors were lost, but crew members on a fifth were rescued after being adrift nearly two weeks.
- November 03, 1942
- Collections - Artifact
Report of Marine Casualty or Accident for Sunken Ford Freighter "East Indian," February 15, 1943
The United States government requisitioned the Ford Motor Company's ocean-going freighter East Indian for wartime service. Newly fitted with anti-submarine and anti-aircraft guns, the freighter left for the Indian Ocean in May 1942. As the East Indian returned to America, the ship was sunk by a German U-boat. Four lifeboats with survivors were lost, but crew members on a fifth were rescued after being adrift nearly two weeks.
- Henry Ford and Edsel Ford Leaving the Ship "Truant" after Inspection, 1941 - <em>Truant</em> was a 138-foot, steel-hulled yacht built in the 1890s. Henry Ford purchased the aging ship in 1936 and began refitting it. Ford replaced the original 1892 Herreshoff marine engine with an engine designed under his personal supervision. In 1941, Ford loaned the yacht to the Navy as a training vessel. After its return in 1943, Ford had the ship scrapped.
- July 10, 1941
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford and Edsel Ford Leaving the Ship "Truant" after Inspection, 1941
Truant was a 138-foot, steel-hulled yacht built in the 1890s. Henry Ford purchased the aging ship in 1936 and began refitting it. Ford replaced the original 1892 Herreshoff marine engine with an engine designed under his personal supervision. In 1941, Ford loaned the yacht to the Navy as a training vessel. After its return in 1943, Ford had the ship scrapped.
- Henry Ford and Charles Sorensen aboard the Ford Motor Company Ship Lake Ormoc, circa 1935 - Charles Sorensen joined Ford Motor Company in 1905. He impressed Henry Ford early on with his strong work ethic, and Sorensen was given increasing production management responsibilities. His hard-driving style contributed to the company's enormous gains with the assembly line. Sorensen's greatest achievement came during World War II when he oversaw B-24 aircraft assembly at Willow Run.
- circa 1935
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford and Charles Sorensen aboard the Ford Motor Company Ship Lake Ormoc, circa 1935
Charles Sorensen joined Ford Motor Company in 1905. He impressed Henry Ford early on with his strong work ethic, and Sorensen was given increasing production management responsibilities. His hard-driving style contributed to the company's enormous gains with the assembly line. Sorensen's greatest achievement came during World War II when he oversaw B-24 aircraft assembly at Willow Run.
- Ford Motor Company Executives at Launching of Freighter MS Henry Ford II, March 1, 1924 - American Ship Building Company launched <em>Henry Ford II</em> at its Lorain, Ohio, shipyard in 1924. The vessel, owned and operated by Ford Motor Company, primarily carried ore from western Lake Superior to the steel mill at Ford's Rouge plant near Detroit. After 65 years of service, <em>Henry Ford II</em> was retired in 1989 and scrapped five years later.
- March 01, 1924
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Motor Company Executives at Launching of Freighter MS Henry Ford II, March 1, 1924
American Ship Building Company launched Henry Ford II at its Lorain, Ohio, shipyard in 1924. The vessel, owned and operated by Ford Motor Company, primarily carried ore from western Lake Superior to the steel mill at Ford's Rouge plant near Detroit. After 65 years of service, Henry Ford II was retired in 1989 and scrapped five years later.
- Ships in Ford Rouge Plant Boat Slip at Night, May 1936 - Unlike Ford's Highland Park plant, the Rouge enjoyed direct access to Great Lakes marine traffic via the Rouge and Detroit Rivers. Raw materials -- like iron ore for the blast furnaces -- came in by boat, while finished products moved out the same way. Ford ultimately owned more than 30 vessels including barges, tugs, canal boats, ocean-going ships, and lake-going ore boats.
- May 14, 1936
- Collections - Artifact
Ships in Ford Rouge Plant Boat Slip at Night, May 1936
Unlike Ford's Highland Park plant, the Rouge enjoyed direct access to Great Lakes marine traffic via the Rouge and Detroit Rivers. Raw materials -- like iron ore for the blast furnaces -- came in by boat, while finished products moved out the same way. Ford ultimately owned more than 30 vessels including barges, tugs, canal boats, ocean-going ships, and lake-going ore boats.
- Hull of Freighter "Onondaga" Loaded with Automobile Parts, circa 1929 - In the 1920s, Henry Ford assembled a fleet of cargo carriers, ocean-going ships, barges, tugboats and canal boats to bring raw materials to or take finished products from his new manufacturing complex on the Rouge River. The <em>Onondaga</em>, a small ocean-going freighter acquired in 1923, carried automobile parts to Ford plants located in cities along America's seaboard and around the world.
- circa 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Hull of Freighter "Onondaga" Loaded with Automobile Parts, circa 1929
In the 1920s, Henry Ford assembled a fleet of cargo carriers, ocean-going ships, barges, tugboats and canal boats to bring raw materials to or take finished products from his new manufacturing complex on the Rouge River. The Onondaga, a small ocean-going freighter acquired in 1923, carried automobile parts to Ford plants located in cities along America's seaboard and around the world.
- Radio Headphones Used by Theodore Haubner While Transmitting the First "SOS" Distress Signal, August 11, 1909 - In 1909, telegraph operator Theodore Haubner sent the first American ship-to-shore wireless distress signal -- SOS. These headphones were part of his wireless equipment. Haubner was aboard the SS <em>Arapahoe</em> off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, when it became disabled.
- August 11, 1909
- Collections - Artifact
Radio Headphones Used by Theodore Haubner While Transmitting the First "SOS" Distress Signal, August 11, 1909
In 1909, telegraph operator Theodore Haubner sent the first American ship-to-shore wireless distress signal -- SOS. These headphones were part of his wireless equipment. Haubner was aboard the SS Arapahoe off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, when it became disabled.
- Ford Barge "Lake Hemlock" at the Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan, February 10, 1938 - Henry Ford purchased 199 surplus World War I merchant ships from the United States government in 1925. Most of these ships were scrapped and the materials were used at Ford's new automobile manufacturing complex on the Rouge River. But 13 were converted into barges, like the <em>Lake Hemlock</em>. These barges transported products and material as part of Ford's operation.
- February 10, 1938
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Barge "Lake Hemlock" at the Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan, February 10, 1938
Henry Ford purchased 199 surplus World War I merchant ships from the United States government in 1925. Most of these ships were scrapped and the materials were used at Ford's new automobile manufacturing complex on the Rouge River. But 13 were converted into barges, like the Lake Hemlock. These barges transported products and material as part of Ford's operation.
- Ford Motor Company Ship "Henry Ford II" at the Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan, circa 1949 - Henry Ford sited his new manufacturing complex on the newly dredged River Rouge to accommodate ships bringing in raw materials or taking on finished product for delivery. Desiring complete self-sufficiency at the Rouge, Ford assembled his own fleet of cargo carriers, ocean-going ships, barges, tugboats, and canal boats. This photograph shows <em>Henry Ford II</em>, a Ford Motor Company ore freighter launched in 1924.
- circa 1949
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Motor Company Ship "Henry Ford II" at the Rouge Plant, Dearborn, Michigan, circa 1949
Henry Ford sited his new manufacturing complex on the newly dredged River Rouge to accommodate ships bringing in raw materials or taking on finished product for delivery. Desiring complete self-sufficiency at the Rouge, Ford assembled his own fleet of cargo carriers, ocean-going ships, barges, tugboats, and canal boats. This photograph shows Henry Ford II, a Ford Motor Company ore freighter launched in 1924.