The Early Years of the SS Eastland: A Ship's Troubled Beginnings - Part 1

Where it all began…

Chicago in abstract ©2024 Natalie Zett

Before the SS Eastland became infamous for the 1915 disaster in Chicago, it had a complex and troubled history. This blog post explores the early life of the Eastland, from its construction to the years leading up to the tragedy.

NOTE: This account is adapted from information originally published by the Eastland Memorial Society, whose website is no longer active but can be accessed through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine. They did a great job and deserve recognition for their early work.

Birth of a Passenger Steamer

• Captain John Pereue had a dream. A dream of the lakes. A dream of profits. A dream of a ship. By October 9, 1902, his investment group formed the Michigan Steamship Company. Their goal was to capitalize on the growing demand for a day-night steamship route between South Haven, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois. This route would allow for the overnight transport of fresh fruit from Michigan's heartland to the thriving markets of Chicago.

• However, the Michigan Steamship Company wasn't alone in recognizing this opportunity. Another Great Lakes operator, the Dunkley-Williams Steamship Company, also set their sights on this lucrative market and route. And so the race began...

• Both steamship companies had their hearts set on naming their new vessel 'The City of South Haven'. To settle the matter, they agreed that the first ship to launch would earn the right to bear this name. The Michigan Steamship Company took swift action, commissioning the Jenks Ship Building Company of Port Huron, Michigan to construct their ship. The contract, signed on October 7, 1902, was valued at $250,000 - a substantial sum for the time.

• Not to be outdone, the Dunkley-Williams Steamship Company quickly followed suit. On October 13, just days after their competitor, they inked a deal with the Craig Ship Building Company of Toledo, Ohio to build their own vessel.

• This passage accurately captures the competitive spirit between the two companies and provides specific details about the shipbuilding contracts. It sets the stage for the race to launch that would ultimately determine which ship would be christened “The City of South Haven.”

Jenks Ship Building Company

• The Jenks Ship Building Company, founded in 1890 by William S. Jenks, was tasked with designing and building the new ship. William Jenks passed away in December 1902, shortly after the contract was signed, leaving his grandson, Sidney Grant Jenks, to take on the role of the ship's architect. While the company typically specialized in constructing barges and bulk freighters, Sidney Jenks, though challenged by this new venture, was deemed competent to design a passenger steamship - a first for the company.

• The design of the ship was significantly influenced by several operational constraints. The vessel needed to navigate the Black River at South Haven, which had a normal depth of only 12 feet. Additionally, a sandbar located 1-1/4 miles into Lake Michigan off South Haven had a typical depth of just 12 to 13 feet. These shallow water requirements led to the implementation of a water ballast system, a design feature that would later prove problematic.

• The ship's intended schedule, which included overnight departures from South Haven, necessitated a large number of sleeping cabins. The contract also called for the vessel to be uncommonly fast. With these requirements in mind, Sidney designed a ship intended to carry 2,000 passengers, with sleeping accommodations for 500, and equipped with twin-screws for unprecedented speed on the Great Lakes.

• The resulting vessel, which would come to be known as the Eastland, was indeed swift. It could reach speeds slightly over 22 miles per hour, earning it the nickname "Speed Queen of the Lakes."

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

• As the shipbuilding race progressed, it became clear that the Dunkley-Williams vessel would be completed first, entitling them to the coveted name. 'The City of South Haven' was launched on March 23, 1903, leaving the Michigan Steamship Company in need of a new name for their ship.

• Undeterred, the company turned this setback into an opportunity for public engagement by announcing a naming contest for their vessel. The response was overwhelming, with 565 submissions received. The contest rules specified that entries should be either American Indian names or names that evoked grandeur or luxury, with a maximum length of 8 letters.

• The winning entry, "Eastland," was submitted by Mrs. David Reid of South Haven. While the reasoning behind her choice remains unknown, it met the contest criteria. For her winning submission, Mrs. Reid was awarded ten dollars and a season pass on the new ship.

• With its name now chosen, the Eastland was ready for its christening. On May 6, 1903, at 2:30 pm, Frances Elizabeth Stufflebeam (Mrs. John Pereue) performed the honors as the ship was side-launched into the Black River. The event drew a festive crowd of 6,000 Port Huron residents, highlighting the local excitement surrounding the new vessel.

• Following the launch, the ship was fitted with its engines and boilers. On July 16, 1903, at 2:30 am, the Eastland embarked on its maiden voyage under the command of a proud Captain John C. Pereue. The journey included stops at Mackinac Island and Manistee before the ship arrived at its home port of South Haven at 4 am on July 18th.