Languishing along the Erie Canal, now in the dry dock adjacent to E-28A, is tugboat Grouper. As she continues in limbo, folks far from the Erie Canal remember her, recall family experiences long ago, not thinking of her as Grouper at all, but rather . . . Green Bay. Here she assists passenger steamer SS South American, a steamer that plied the Lakes for over 50 years.
Some look at the photo below and can identify relatives.
She has been shipshape with
many assists behind her, like Hennepin here. This laker was known by the name Hennepin between 1937 and 1975.
Of the many captains who worked on her over the years, Lester Gamble, to the right below, was the captain from 1954-68.
Many thanks to the the Gamble family for sharing these photos.
Below are two photos I took of the highly endangered Green Bay/Grouper last month. For all her previous names and history, click here.
For the dozens of previous posts I’ve done on this boat, click here.
tugster: a waterblog 
6 comments
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February 18, 2020 at 7:34 pm
Deb Gamble Wiegand
Thanks so much for the tribute and recognition to the crews and captains.
So many stories – so many memories. It’s was so much the way of life that our family lived for from 1928-1980 when my Dad was sailing the Lakes that has almost faded away now. Deb Gamble Wiegand
February 19, 2020 at 12:55 pm
Lee Rust
I believe the second photo on Green Bay’s foredeck is from about 1955, with Lester Gamble on the left and his predecessor Bill Wright on the right. In the first crew photo, Bill is in the window to the left, and Lester is to the right.
Even at this late date, there are still some stirrings of an effort to preserve the old tug.
February 19, 2020 at 4:13 pm
Deb Gamble Wiegand
Russ, That’s Bill Armstrong the retiring captain before Lester, on his last day on the job. They were two of a kind. Both seemingly gruff guys with big hearts, who worked their ways up through many boats over the years. Lester finished his career in 1980 as a senior pilot for the Upper Great Lakes Pilots’ Association.
February 19, 2020 at 8:46 pm
Lee Rust
Thanks, Deb!
January 3, 2021 at 10:45 am
tugster
i just stumbled onto this footage of her at work on the Great Lakes a century ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR2NZDnsPbnRrJx7-7oB_d3IlrRNJAxFTTjZzIrqw2VlqYNDaaVqHe1Vm1Y&v=ja2-qOHMha0&feature=youtu.be
January 3, 2021 at 9:22 pm
Deborah Gamble Wiegand
Thank you , my Friend. We only have brief movie clips of her. I’ll pass it on to my family.