SS Carl D. Bradley

The Steamship Carl D. Bradley was built in 1927 and at over 638 feet in length and 65 feet wide, she was the largest vessel on the Great Lakes for almost a quarter century. She was powered by a steam turbo-electric plant, which was in vogue in the 1920’s US shipbuilding, but unique for a Great Lakes vessel. I’m very intrigued by the arrangement of this plant and look forward to digitally recreating her engineering spaces for virtual tours. Her larger fleet-mate, the John G. Munson, was built in 1952 to a similar though more conventionally powered design. The Bradley broke in half and sank in a storm in November, 1958. Only two crew members from her forward section survived from her crew of 35 mariners. The photo below I believe shows the Bradley departing Rogers City and is provided by Greenwood Cemetery.