Overlakes Freight Corporation Explained

Overlakes Freight Corporation
Foundation: in New York City
Fate:Sold off fleet of ships, Nicholson Terminal continues
Defunct:1962
Industry:transportation and shipping
Key People:
  • William M. Nicholson
  • William F. Deane
  • Walter S. Brown
  • Scott B. Worden

Overlakes Freight Corporation was shipping agent company founded in New York City on April 21, 1932, by William M. Nicholson. Overlakes Freight Corporation operated Liberty Ships during and for post World War II efforts. Most of Overlakes Freight Corporation ships were purchased by the War Shipping Administration for the war. Nicholson also owned the Nicholson Universal Steamship Company, Nicholson, Erie, Dover, Ferry Line, Nicholson Terminal & Dock Company, Aqua Terminal & Dock Corporation and the Nicholson Transit Company.[1] [2]

William M. Nicholson

William M. Nicholson was born on July 2, 1864, in Canada. William M. Nicholson move to the United States in 1882. In 1885 Nicholson passed the US naturalization and became a US citizen. Nicholson became a marine engineer in Duluth, Minnesota. In 1901 married Elizabeth Ruth Quinton. Nicholson departed marine engineering and became the captain of the ship, SS Naomi in 1920. In 1923 Nicholson founded his first company the Nicholson Transit Company in Ecorse, Michigan, as a tugboat and barge firm in the New York State Canal System. Nicholson founded and built Nicholson's Universal Terminal Company in 1929. Nicholson's Universal Terminal Company operated out of a dock and warehouse at 5451 N. Marginal Road, Cleveland, Ohio. Nicholson's Universal Terminal Company opened a second dock and Warehouse in Encorse. Nicholson purchased two ships for his new Nicholson's Universal Terminal Company in Detroit, Michigan. In 1930 Nicholson purchased cargo ship SS Liberty 757-ton ship and also the SS Fellowcraft 1,640-ton cargo steamship. Nicholson started a new firm in 1931 the Nicholson, Erie, Dover, Ferry Line to operate the ship SS Keystone. SS Keystone was a 1,923-ton passenger liner with home ports in River Rouge, Michigan and Detroit. Overlakes Freight Corporation was a holding company for the Nicholson many firms and interests. In 1939 William F. Deane was president of the Aqua Terminal & Dock Corp. in Detroit. He lived with his wife Jean at 3703 Baldwin St. in Detroit. In 1939 Nicholson founded the Aqua Terminal & Dock Corporation with William F. Deane as president. Overlakes Freight Corporation purchased Nicholson Universal Steamship Company in 1942. Nicholson Universal Steamship Company had some car carrier ships, that were converted to cargo ships. Overlakes Freight Corporation became the operator of ships for the war effort. Nicholson Transit Company's eight Lakers cargo ships supported the war effort on the Great Lakes.[3] [4]

Nicholson Terminal & Dock Company
Foundation: in Ecorse, Michigan
Industry:transportation and shipping

Nicholson Terminal and Dock Company

Nicholson Terminal & Dock Company was founded in 1928 and is in operation today as a general freight transporter. With offices in Ecorse, Michigan, Detroit, Michigan and River Rouge, Michigan. Nicholson Terminal & Dock Company operation at the Port of Detroit is a Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ), with importing and exporting operations. Nicholson Terminal & Dock Company operates a dry dock and ship repair depot. Nicholson Terminal & Dock Company has partnerships with: Port of detroit, Wayne County Port Authority, Ambassador Port Company, Universal AM-CAN Ltd., Great American Lines Inc. and Distribution Publications Inc.[5] [6] [7]

Nicholson-Universal Steamship Company

Nicholson-Universal Steamship Company of Detroit, Michigan was founded in 1927 and sold in 1942.[8]

Nicholson Transit Company

Nicholson Transit Company of Ecorse, Michigan operated both ships and tugboat-barges on the Great Lakes starting in 1919. [13] [14] Some ships and tugs operated:

Nicholson Erie-Dover Ferry Line

Nicholson founded the Nicholson Erie-Dover Ferry Line in 1926. The Nicholson Erie-Dover Ferry Line operated an automobile and passenger ferry service from Erie, Pennsylvania to Port Dover in Ontario, Canada. Nicholson Erie-Dover Ferry Line operated three ferries the: Erie, Dover and Keystone. The ferry Keystone had a max capacity of 80 cars and 1,000 passengers. In 1929 both the Erie and Dover caught on fire and were destroyed. The Nicholson Erie-Dover Ferry Line ended in 1931 due to the Great Depression.

World War II

Overlakes Freight Corporation's fleet of ships were used to help the World War II effort. During World War II Overlakes Freight Corporation operated Merchant navy ships for the United States Shipping Board. During World War II Overlakes Freight Corporation was active with charter shipping with the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration. Overlakes Freight Corporation operated Liberty ships for the merchant navy. The ship was run by its Overlakes Freight Corporation crew and the US Navy supplied United States Navy Armed Guards to man the deck guns and radio.[26] [27] [28]

Overlakes Freight Corporation Ships

Overlakes Freight Corporation Ships World War II and post war operated ships:thumb|Liberty ship of World War II

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nicholson Universal Steamship Company (Detroit, Mich.) [WorldCat Identities]].
  2. Web site: Nicholson Transit Company (River Rouge, Mich.) [WorldCat Identities]].
  3. he Liberty Ships of World War II, By Greg H. Williams
  4. Web site: House Flags of U.S. Shipping Companies: N. www.crwflags.com.
  5. Web site: About Us | Nicholson Terminal & Dock Company.
  6. Web site: Home . nicholson-terminal.com.
  7. Web site: SAFER Web – Company Snapshot NICHOLSON TERMINAL & DOCK CO. safer.fmcsa.dot.gov.
  8. Web site: Nicholson-Universal Steamship Co. – Historical Collections of the Great Lakes. greatlakes.bgsu.edu.
  9. Web site: Penobscot – Great Lakes Vessel HistoryGreat Lakes Vessel History. www.greatlakesvesselhistory.com.
  10. Web site: PENOBSCOT – Historical Collections of the Great Lakes. greatlakes.bgsu.edu.
  11. https://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/GreatLakes/Documents/Scanner/17/09/default.asp?ID=c4 Penobscot
  12. News: Shipping News. The Plain Dealer. December 29, 1891. 6.
  13. Web site: Nicholson Transit Company | Detroit Historical Society. detroithistorical.pastperfectonline.com.
  14. https://lib.bgsu.edu/finding_aids/items/show/760 bgsu.edu Nicholson Transit Company
  15. Web site: Lake Traverse (ID 2782). www.navsource.org.
  16. Web site: Lake Traverse. NHHC.
  17. Web site: Tugboat Information. www.tugboatinformation.com.
  18. Web site: HUMACONNA (Tugboat). tacomalibrary.contentdm.oclc.org.
  19. https://www.greatlakesvesselhistory.com/histories-by-name/r/roumania Roumania
  20. Web site: Mariners Weather Log Vol. 50, No. 3, December 2006. www.vos.noaa.gov.
  21. Web site: FLEETWOOD. vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov.
  22. Web site: ADRIAN ISELIN. vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov.
  23. http://paddlesteamers.info/Historical%20database%20-%20USA%20and%20Canada/Great%20Lakes%20USA.html paddlesteamers.info, Erie
  24. http://paddlesteamers.info/Historical%20database%20-%20USA%20and%20Canada/Great%20Lakes%20USA.html paddlesteamers.info, Dover
  25. http://paddlesteamers.info/Historical%20database%20-%20USA%20and%20Canada/Great%20Lakes%20USA.html paddlesteamers.info, Keystone
  26. Web site: Sea Lane Vigilantes. www.armed-guard.com.
  27. World War II U.S. Navy Armed Guard and World War II U.S. Merchant Marine, 2007–2014 Project Liberty Ship, Project Liberty Ship, P.O. Box 25846 Highlandtown Station, Baltimore, MD https://www.armed-guard.com/about-ag.html#:~:text=There%20were%20three%20basic%20training,California%3B%20and%20Gulfport%2C%20Mississippi.
  28. Web site: Steamship Company Operators of American Flag Ships during World War II. www.usmm.org.
  29. Web site: LibShipsSam. www.mariners-l.co.uk.
  30. Web site: LibShipsG. www.mariners-l.co.uk.
  31. Web site: LibShipsF. www.mariners-l.co.uk.
  32. Web site: LibShipsR. www.mariners-l.co.uk.
  33. Web site: LibshipsB. www.mariners-l.co.uk.
  34. Web site: LibShipsJon. www.mariners-l.co.uk.
  35. Web site: LibShipsC. www.mariners-l.co.uk.