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Lake Erie circa 1905. "Freighters Chili & Wm. Castle Rhodes at Cleveland." After half a century of service that included a number of sinkings, groundings and collisions, the Chili (renamed the Sarnian in 1913) was scrapped in 1944. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size.
There is at least one other large Great Lakes vessel database. This other one is at Bowling Green State University (Ohio) They appear to complement each other. Their entry for the Chili.
The BGSU collection is open to researchers, and it is common for someone with interest in lake boats to spend a day or several days there.
Additionally, the marine museum that was in Vermilion OH has moved to Toledo, and includes exhibits and a very nice restored lake boat (ie a large freighter) to tour.
Many ports on the Great Lakes have worthwhile marine museums, such as Buffalo (Navy ships), Erie (primarily early sail history, and the Battle Of Lake Erie), Ashtabula + Fairport Lighthouse (lake freighter photos + artifacts), Duluth (a lake boat to tour), etc.
The tail on the 2nd "L" is obscured by the ladder.
[Chili. -tterrace]
From the Great Lakes Maritime Database there is a clearer view of the vessel's name on the wheelhouse. However, the name on the stern still looks like "CHILL" in that pic. also.
[There's a period after the "I" -tterrace]
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