ore freighter Ashland

[Guest]

Thank you everyone so much for all the information.
Goldie

[rwick]

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.

[Herm Phillips]

Sold for scrap in 1987. scrapped in Mamonel, Columbia 1988.

[William Lafferty]

The *Ashland* (formerly the *Clarence B. Randall*) arrived at Mamonal, Colombia, on 5 February 1988 to be broken up.

[Goldie]

Does anyone on there know what ever happened to the ore freighter Ashland? I remember seeing tied up near Fraiser shipyard in Superior, WI when I was a kid. It always held a place in my heart because I was born in Ashland, WI. Whenever I saw that ship it would make me think of my years living there and the fun times I had.
Thank you in advance for any information.
Goldie