Tug H. J. Dornbos is no more…. That headline appeared over 104 years ago! For what it’s worth, that newspaper, still active by that name, published its first issue on July 10, 1885. Here was a Dispatches post from October. Sadly, there is no new news on the tugboat. Many thanks to Sam Hankinson for…
Tug H. J. Dornbos is no more…. That headline appeared over 104 years ago! For what it’s worth, that newspaper, still active by that name, published its first issue on July 10, 1885.
Here was a Dispatches post from October. Sadly, there is no new news on the tugboat.
Many thanks to Sam Hankinson for sharing the clipping with me.
How does this relate to the tug sitting in the maintenance yard near West Phoenix?
Great question, treich43. Thanks. The tug sitting in the maintenance yard is the same boat. Urger was launched in 1901 as H. J. Dornbos, a steam powered Lake Michigan fishing boat. It also did icebreaking duty. Here from my other blog are some links to photos of Urger as Dornbos. Let’s start with her as a fishing boat or fish tug here:
https://tugster.wordpress.com/2008/06/28/urgers-first-life/. 1907 here: https://tugster.wordpress.com/2023/12/06/urgers-lives-2/. Another of her in different decades: https://tugster.wordpress.com/2018/06/14/urger-illustrated/. More: https://tugster.wordpress.com/2018/04/17/join-the-canal-society/
“What forgotten wheelhouse poet gave her to bear The name she earned for so many years ?” I suppose I should now rewrite that line in my song of tribute to Urger, but I’m going to prefer – and presume – to think that even a gravel company can house a forgotten poet whose effort we should honor. Of course it can. Great to know where the name did come from. – George Ward 😉
Note: Sorry to reply this way. WordPress and I seem to have some misunderstanding.
Thanks for the comment, George. I have always loved the name, helping me personify the machine as gifted with powers of persuasion and encouragement.
Judging only by the number of bow-on shots and artworks featuring the wheelhouse nameboard that I have seen over the years, you (we) are not alone. She needs a foundation to keep her alive and working! -G
Dispatches from the Samuel Center 
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