by rwick » August 2, 2010, 9:29 pm
The steamer Ashland was one of sixteen "Maritime Class" ships built during World War II in 1943, and launched as the Clarence B. Randell (1) for the Pioneer Steamship Company of the Hutchinson interests. In 1962 its original owner went out of the shipping business, so this ship was sold to Oglebay Norton's Columbia Transportation Division. It was 621 feet long and built in Ashtabula, Ohio by the Great Lakes Engineering Works. In 1962 upon its purchase it was renamed Ashland. However, it was not named for Ashland, Wisconsin, but Ashland, Kentucky on the Ohio River where Armco had a large steel plant. This name was chosen since this steel company received ore hauled on Columbia steamers such as this one. Sorry its not the Wisconsin city of the same name, but being originally from the Duluth-Superior area, the city of Ashland, Wisconsin is much more familiar to me to.
The steamer Ashland was one of sixteen "Maritime Class" ships built during World War II in 1943, and launched as the Clarence B. Randell (1) for the Pioneer Steamship Company of the Hutchinson interests. In 1962 its original owner went out of the shipping business, so this ship was sold to Oglebay Norton's Columbia Transportation Division. It was 621 feet long and built in Ashtabula, Ohio by the Great Lakes Engineering Works. In 1962 upon its purchase it was renamed Ashland. However, it was not named for Ashland, Wisconsin, but Ashland, Kentucky on the Ohio River where Armco had a large steel plant. This name was chosen since this steel company received ore hauled on Columbia steamers such as this one. Sorry its not the Wisconsin city of the same name, but being originally from the Duluth-Superior area, the city of Ashland, Wisconsin is much more familiar to me to.