Nicholson Universal Steamship Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | 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, international shipping routes |
Key people | William M. Nicholson (founder) |
| Products | Maritime freight transportation, Liberty ship operations |
Overlakes Freight Corporation was a maritime agency established in New York City on April 21, 1932, by William M. Nicholson. The company operated Liberty Ships during and following World War II, with the majority of its vessels obtained through the War Shipping Administration. Nicholson also controlled several affiliated businesses, such as 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 on July 2, 1864, in Canada, William M. Nicholson immigrated to the United States in 1882 and became a naturalized citizen by 1885. He began his career as a marine engineer based in Duluth, Minnesota, later advancing to the role of ship captain by 1920. In 1923, Nicholson established the Nicholson Transit Company in Ecorse, Michigan, focusing on tugboat and barge services along the New York State Canal System. He further expanded his operations in 1929 by founding Nicholson's Universal Terminal Company, which managed docks and warehouse facilities in Cleveland, Ohio, and Ecorse.
By 1930, Nicholson had added cargo vessels SS Liberty (757 tons) and SS Fellowcraft (1,640 tons) to his fleet. The following year, he inaugurated the Nicholson, Erie, Dover, Ferry Line to operate the SS Keystone, a 1,923-ton passenger ship stationed in River Rouge, Michigan and Detroit. Overlakes Freight Corporation functioned as a parent company overseeing Nicholson’s varied maritime enterprises.
In 1939, together with William F. Deane as president, Nicholson founded Aqua Terminal & Dock Corporation. Overlakes Freight expanded further by acquiring Nicholson Universal Steamship Company in 1942; this subsidiary included automobile carriers that had been converted into cargo ships. Throughout World War II, Overlakes Freight operated vessels that contributed to wartime logistics, including eight Lakers cargo ships from Nicholson Transit Company active on the Great Lakes.
Nicholson Terminal and Dock Company
Established in 1928, Nicholson Terminal & Dock Company provides comprehensive freight transportation services with offices located in Ecorse, Detroit, and River Rouge, Michigan. Operating within the Port of Detroit, it manages a Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) dedicated to import-export activities. The company also oversees a dry dock facility and a ship repair yard. Its strategic alliances include collaborations 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
Founded in Detroit in 1927 and sold in 1942, Nicholson-Universal Steamship Company’s fleet featured:
- Penobscot, a laker constructed in 1895 that was converted into an automobile carrier before being sold to the U.S. government in 1943 for military purposes.
- SS Senator, which sank in Lake Michigan in 1929 resulting in considerable cargo loss.
- Pathfinder, a Whaleback steamship built in 1892; acquired in 1920 and dismantled by 1933.
Nicholson Transit Company
Established in 1919 in Ecorse, Michigan, Nicholson Transit Company specialized in managing tugboats and barges across the Great Lakes. Among its significant vessels were:
- Lake Traverse, initially named War Centaur (1917), which served the US Army and Navy during World War I; purchased in 1936 and later sold in 1943.
- Former tugboats included F.J. Haynes (1895–1941), Humaconna, Liberty, Monarch (constructed in 1889; lost in 1934), and Nicholson.
- Bulk carriers such as Roumania, built in 1887 and scrapped by 1929, marking Nicholson’s inaugural ship.
- SS Mataafa, which was repurposed from an ore carrier into an automobile transporter in 1946.
- Fleetwood, constructed by Bethlehem Steel in 1903; requisitioned for military service during World War II starting in 1942.
During the Second World War, Nicholson Transit operated vessels under the War Shipping Administration’s direction, including Adrian Iselin (built in 1914), which was chartered from 1943 until its sale in 1961; this ship was eventually sunk as a breakwater at the Kewaunee Power Station in 1967.
Nicholson Erie-Dover Ferry Line
Founded by Nicholson in 1926, the Nicholson Erie-Dover Ferry Line provided automobile and passenger ferry transport between Erie, Pennsylvania and Port Dover, Ontario. The fleet comprised three ferries: Erie, Dover, and Keystone. The Keystone was capable of carrying up to 80 vehicles and accommodating 1,000 passengers. In 1929, fires destroyed both the Erie and Dover, leading to the ferry line’s closure by 1931 during the economic hardships of the Great Depression.
- Ferries:
- Erie: Originally constructed as Pennsylvania in 1899 at Wyandotte, Michigan; renamed Owana in 1903; acquired by Nicholson in 1925; converted into a coal barge by 1934; dismantled by 1981; measured 200.6 feet long by 39 feet wide with a tonnage of 747.
- Dover: Built in Wyandotte, Michigan in 1890; previously named Frank E Kirby (1890–1919) and later Silver Spray serving Detroit-Kingsville routes; renamed Dover under Nicholson’s ownership; destroyed by fire in 1932; dimensions were 195.5 by 30.1 feet with a tonnage of 532.
- Keystone: Launched at Wyandotte, Michigan in 1886 as City of Cleveland, renamed City of St. Ignace in 1907; sold to Western Reserve Navigation Co. in 1927; acquired and renamed Keystone by Nicholson in 1929; burned down in 1932 and scrapped by 1948; tonnage stood at 1,923.
World War II
Overlakes Freight Corporation played a role during World War II by operating merchant marine vessels under contracts with the United States Shipping Board. The company engaged with both the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration to charter ships, specifically managing Liberty ships for the U.S. Merchant Navy. While Overlakes’ crews handled daily operations of these vessels, U.S. Navy Armed Guards were responsible for manning deck weaponry and communications equipment, exemplifying a strategic partnership aligned with wartime transportation needs and government directives.
Overlakes Freight Corporation Ships
Throughout World War II and the subsequent post-war period, Overlakes Freight Corporation operated numerous Liberty ships that contributed to its maritime transport expansion. Key ships included:
- Liberty Ships:**
- Vernon S. Hood (service years: 1945–1947)
- SS Coastal Archer (operated from 1946)
- SS Henry S. Sanford (active between 1944–1946)
- SS Grover C. Hutcherson (served from 1944 to 1948)
- Sherwood Anderson (utilized after the war)
- George A. Marr
- Frederic E. Ives
- Russell R. Jones
- Bernard L. Rodman
- Josiah Cohen
- Charles J. Finger
These vessels were integral to Overlakes’ operational strategy within international shipping markets during a pivotal era marked by wartime logistics and economic recovery following World War II.