Nicholson Terminal & Dock Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipping, Maritime transport |
| Founded | April 21, 1932 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | William M. Nicholson |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | United States, Great Lakes region |
| Products | Freight shipping, terminal services, Liberty ships operation |
Overlakes Freight Corporation was established as a shipping agency in New York City on April 21, 1932, by the entrepreneur William M. Nicholson. Throughout and following World War II, the company operated Liberty Ship vessels, most of which were procured by the War Shipping Administration for wartime deployment. Serving as a holding entity, Overlakes Freight Corporation oversaw Nicholson’s various maritime and terminal enterprises, including the Nicholson Universal Steamship Company, Nicholson, Erie, Dover, Ferry Line, Nicholson Terminal & Dock Company, Aqua Terminal & Dock Corporation, and the Nicholson Transit Company.
William M. Nicholson
Born in Canada on July 2, 1864, William M. Nicholson immigrated to the United States in 1882 and obtained citizenship by 1885. He initiated his professional journey as a marine engineer in Duluth, Minnesota, before advancing to captain the SS Naomi in 1920. In 1923, Nicholson founded his initial enterprise, the Nicholson Transit Company based in Ecorse, Michigan, which specialized in tugboat and barge services within the New York State Canal System.
Nicholson broadened his business interests by launching Nicholson's Universal Terminal Company in 1929, operating dockyards and warehouses located in Cleveland, Ohio, and Ecorse. By 1930, he expanded his fleet with two cargo ships—the SS Liberty (757 tons) and SS Fellowcraft (1,640 tons)—to enhance terminal operations. In 1931, he diversified further by establishing the Nicholson, Erie, Dover, Ferry Line to run the passenger vessel SS Keystone (1,923 tons), connecting ports at River Rouge and Detroit.
In 1939, Nicholson founded Aqua Terminal & Dock Corporation with William F. Deane appointed as president. Overlakes Freight Corporation acquired Nicholson Universal Steamship Company in 1942; this branch operated converted car carriers that supported wartime supply efforts. Moreover, the Nicholson Transit Company’s fleet of eight Type L6 Lakers cargo vessels played a significant role in Great Lakes wartime transportation.
These calculated acquisitions and expansions under Nicholson’s direction significantly strengthened the company’s market position and operational reach within regional shipping and terminal services during a pivotal era of industrial growth.
Nicholson Terminal and Dock Company
Established in 1928, Nicholson Terminal & Dock Company functions as a general freight carrier with offices situated in Ecorse, Detroit, and River Rouge, Michigan. Its facility at the Port of Detroit is designated as a Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ), facilitating import-export operations. The company also operates a dry dock alongside a ship repair facility. Prominent collaborations include partnerships with the Port of Detroit, Wayne County Port Authority, Ambassador Port Company, Universal AM-CAN Ltd., Great American Lines Inc., and Distribution Publications Inc.
Nicholson-Universal Steamship Company
Established in Detroit, Michigan, in 1927, the Nicholson-Universal Steamship Company remained active until its sale in 1942.
- Fleet highlights:
- Penobscot, originally a laker constructed in 1895, acquired in 1925, later transformed into an automobile carrier, and transferred to the U.S. government for wartime service in 1943.
- SS Senator, which tragically sank on Lake Michigan in 1929 following a collision, causing nine fatalities and the loss of 268 Nash automobiles.
- Pathfinder, a Whaleback steamship built in 1892, obtained in 1920 and dismantled by 1933.
Nicholson Transit Company
Based out of Ecorse, Michigan since 1919, Nicholson Transit Company operated a fleet comprising ships and tugboat-barges across the Great Lakes region.
Prominent vessels included:
- Lake Traverse (previously War Centaur), purchased in 1936 and sold off in 1943.
- Tugboats such as F.J. Haynes (active from 1927 to 1941), Humaconna, Liberty, Monarch (constructed in 1889; sank in 1934), and Nicholson.
- Car-Ore vessels like Roumania (built in 1887; scrapped in 1929) — the first ship acquired by Nicholson — and SS Mataafa, which was converted to carry automobiles in 1946.
- Fleetwood (built in 1903), requisitioned for military service during World War II beginning in 1942.
Throughout World War II, Nicholson Transit operated ships under contract for the War Shipping Administration:
- Adrian Iselin (built in 1914), chartered for wartime use from 1943; later sold in 1961 and eventually sunk as a breakwater at Kewaunee Power Station in 1967.
Nicholson Erie-Dover Ferry Line
Founded by Nicholson in 1926, this ferry line provided transportation for both vehicles and passengers between Erie, Pennsylvania and Port Dover, Ontario. The company managed three vessels: Erie, Dover, and Keystone. The Keystone ferry accommodated up to 80 automobiles and could carry approximately 1,000 passengers. After fires destroyed both the Erie and Dover ferries by 1929, the company ceased operations by 1931 during the economic hardships of the Great Depression.
- Ferries details:
- Erie: Initially launched as Pennsylvania in 1899 at Wyandotte, MI; renamed Owana in 1903; acquired by Nicholson in 1925; repurposed as a coal barge in 1934; dismantled by 1981; measuring 200.6 feet long by 39 feet wide with a tonnage of 747.
- Dover: Constructed in 1890 by Frank E. Kirby at Wyandotte, MI; served on the Sandusky route until 1919; renamed first as Silver Spray then as Dover under Nicholson ownership; destroyed by fire in 1932; dimensions were 195.5 feet by 30.1 feet with a tonnage of 532.
- Keystone: Built in Wyandotte, MI, in 1886; formerly known as City of Cleveland and later City of St. Ignace; purchased by Nicholson in 1929; destroyed by fire in 1932; scrapped by 1948; registered at 1,923 tons.
World War II
During the Second World War, Overlakes Freight Corporation played a role supporting the war effort by operating merchant vessels under agreements with the United States Shipping Board, Maritime Commission, and War Shipping Administration. The company staffed Liberty ships with its own crews while U.S. Navy Armed Guards manned deck guns and handled communications to ensure vital supply lines for Allied operations.
Overlakes Freight Corporation Ships
Throughout and following World War II, Overlakes Freight Corporation managed an array of Liberty Ships that contributed significantly to its maritime business growth. Important ships included:
- Vernon S. Hood (service from 1945 to 1947)
- SS Coastal Archer (operated starting in 1946)
- SS Henry S. Sanford (active between 1944 and 1946)
- SS Grover C. Hutcherson (in service from 1944 to 1948)
- Sherwood Anderson (served post-war)
- George A. Marr
- Frederic E. Ives
- Russell R. Jones
- Bernard L. Rodman
- Josiah Cohen
- Charles J. Finger
These vessels bolstered Overlakes’ strategic presence within the shipping sector and enhanced its operational reach during a pivotal era of expansion.