On July 1, 1911, a teenaged Gretchen V. Schoonmaker stood ready to christen an iron leviathan on the ways at the Great Lakes Engineering Works of Ecorse, Michigan.
 
The vessel, owned and operated by the Shenango Furnace Co., was named by company President William P. Snyder to honor his closest friend and the girl's father, Civil War hero and railroad industry innovator Col. James M. Schoonmaker. At 11:30 a.m., young Schoonmaker broke a bottle of champagne across the ship's bow, thus christening the "World's Largest Bulk Freighter" in her father's name.

Just months later, on Oct. 9, the Schoonmaker made her maiden voyage into the port of Toledo to load a record cargo of coal at the exact location she rests today — along the east bank of the Maumee River several hundred yards from The Docks restaurant complex.

James M. Schoonmaker II at the rechristening (Press photo by Harold Hamilton

Until last weekend when it was rechristened the Schoonmaker, the museum ship was known as the S.S. Willis B. Boyer.

“The Boyer has served as a floating testament to Toledo's maritime heritage for nearly 25 years. Now, after weathering years of deterioration and an uncertain future, the vessel is undergoing the most comprehensive restoration and subsequent transformation ever to occur in the annals of Great Lakes shipping history,” states a press release from the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority.

In what can only be described as a complete fit-out, every aspect of the vessel's structure (except for her propelling machinery) is being repaired and refurbished as if making ready for sea. The effort culminated in a centennial celebration last weekend that brought the ship's historic career full circle.

On July 1, 2011, history repeated itself as friends and benefactors who comprise the vessel's past, present, and future stood in the shadow of the newly-restored steamship bearing the original fleet livery of the Shenango Furnace Co.

At 11:30 a.m. last Friday morning, at the exact moment that his mother broke a bottle of champagne across the bow of the same vessel 100 years prior, James M. Schoonmaker II and his wife Treecie did the same, thus rechristening it in his grandfather's name.

Also in attendance was William P. Snyder III, grandson of the Shenango Furnace Co. founder, and great-great-grandson, William P. Snyder V.

“William P. Snyder and Colonel James M. Schoonmaker were the two best friends who loved nothing more than their vessels on the Great Lakes. It served as a bait of iron that fed our nation, our industry, our forts.” said Paul LaMarre III, executive director, Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship.

“Those best friends were riding aboard a steamer ship in 1909 through the Soo Locks and the Colonel said to William P. Snyder I, ‘You know you could really build a wider ship to fill up these locks,’” LaMarre continued.
 
“And, in turn, he did that. He built a ship that was four feet wider than anything that had ever been built in the history of the Maritime world. Not only was it wider, but it was longer and in fact, he named it after himself.

“That vessel returned to become Toledo’s flagship by fate alone, but it’s not been fate alone that it has been staying here. It has been the effort of countless volunteers, community supporters, and organizations. As all of you know, over the past six years it has been a struggle to keep this ship in existence. If it wasn’t for the (former port director) Jim Hartung of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority bringing us under his wing when he was at the port, we would not still be here today.”

Following the rechristening, the ship was open for tours and a reception was held in the Centennial Room of the Toledo Club.

For the duration of the weekend, guests were able to experience more maritime history while touring and sailing aboard the War of 1812 privateer schooner Lynx, which was visiting for the weekend's festivities. In addition, visitors had the opportunity to hear the voices of historic ships that have long since met their demise, saluting the Schoonmaker during a live steam-whistle event held on the grounds next to the ship over the course of the weekend.

After the weekend-long festivities, the Schoonmaker closed to the public so that restoration work — behind schedule due to this spring's rainy weather — can be completed on deck. The Schoonmaker will reopen for the remainder of the season on or about August 1 and will eventually take her place up river as the centerpiece of the National Great Lakes Maritime Museum to be established in Toledo in conjunction with the Great Lakes Historical Society and scheduled to open May 1, 2013.

Current financial sponsors include the James M. Schoonmaker Foundation and the Great Lakes Historical Society while material and in-kind service sponsors including P&W Painting Contractors, PPG Marine Coatings, Harsco Minerals, Warner Petroleum Corporation, Precision Environmental Co., Seaway Scaffolding, Geo. Gradel Co., Samsel Supply Co., Toledo Shredding, Painters Local 7, Sheet Metal Workers Local 33 and Boilermakers Local 85.

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