JOSEPH H. THOMPSON records

The JOSEPH H. THOMPSON (US 245496) was launched as the MARINE ROBIN in 1944 at the Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Chester, Pennsylvania. The original vessel was built as a C-4 type cargo carrier at the dimensions of 496'2" for length, 71'7" for width and 25'6" for depth. As the MARINE ROBIN, this vessel participated in the June 6, 1944 invasion of the Normandy coast. After World War II the boat was assigned to the James River Reserve Fleet in Virginia.

In 1950 the Wisconsin-Michigan Steamship Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin purchased the MARINE ROBIN from the US Maritime Commission for service on Lake Michigan. Later that year, the Hansard Steamship Company of Cleveland, Ohio bought the vessel for inclusion in the M. A. Hanna Company fleet. At this time the name was changed to JOSEPH H. THOMPSON.

Joseph Hamilton Thompson was born at Nashville, Tennessee on October 29, 1900. Thompson was prominent in Cleveland, Ohio banking from 1921 to 1937 when he became a vice president for the M. A. Hanna Company. In 1952 Thompson became company president. Thompson's leadership developed during his career to place him at the center of mining activities from Minnesota to Labrador.

The THOMPSON was converted in 1952 to a bulk carrier at Baltimore's Maryland Dry Dock Company. A new midbody was later added that year at the Chicago yard of the American Shipbuilding Company. The new dimensions were 714'3" for length, 71'6" for width and 38'6" for depth.

The THOMPSON sailed in the Hanna fleet until 1984 when it was sold to the Upper Lakes Towing Company of Escanaba, Michigan. The THOMPSON is still (1995) in service with the Upper Lakes fleet.

During the THOMPSON's career with the Hanna fleet notable events included the rescue of six crewmen from the HENRY STEINBRENNER that sank near Isle Royale, Michigan on May 11, 1953. On December 4, 1976 the THOMPSON grounded in the St. Mary's River and sustained $107,000 in damage. Electrical power failed near Two Harbors, Minnesota on June 1, 1980. Repairs permitted the trip to be completed.

In 1985 Escanaba, Michigan's Upper Lakes Towing Company purchased the steamer and announced their plans to convert her to a self-unloading barge. Shortly after ULT bought the THOMPSON, its conversion was started at Menominee, MI, Bay Shipyards, WI, and Escanaba. The aft and fore cabins were removed and the hull was shortened to create a notch for her push vessel. Her push tug, the JOSEPH H. THOMPSON, JR., was constructed in 1990 from the leftover steel from the larger ship's hull.

A career now over seventy years in length has taken the JOSEPH H. THOMPSON from D-Day to Duluth. The THOMPSON has proven itself to be a reliable cargo transporter for military and commercial purposes.