Ashtabula in Ashtabula County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Giant Hulett
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 13, 2019
In 1898, George H. Hulett patented his first machine for unloading iron ore from lake freighters. The Hulett is one of the largest and most cumbersome machines ever built. 88 feet hight, 36 feet wide at the base and weighing 950 tons, it was capable of digging 17 tons of ore in fifty seconds. The "main girder" of the machine is 134 feet long and extends over five railroad loading tracks. The "walking beam" is 94 feet long and is connected to the "digging leg". The digging leg, to which a "bucket" is attached, is 58 feet long. All those familiar with the intricate operation of these machines agreed that it required a great deal of time to train a man to the point where he became an efficient Hulett operator. The "Hulett operator" sat in a small booth just above the bucket inside the digging leg. He controlled the digging device going in and out of the vessel's hold. Once out of the hold he would "trolley" the entire Hulett back from the vessel. He would do this by moving back along the main girder so he could dump his loaded bucket into a "hopper". The "larry car operator" under the main beam would weigh, then dump the ore from the hopper into the waiting rail cars below.
The first Hulett was constructed in Conneaut, Ohio in 1898. Andrew Carnegie, the leader in the American steel industry, had been convinced to try this new idea, but he made sure it would not cost him anything. "If the machine works, I'll buy it; if not, the manufacturer will have to dispose of it!" It was ready to go by the start of 1899. The first Hulett was steam powered and it did away with many of the expensive cables needed by other unloading machines. Later they were operated by electric DC power. In 1908, Ashtabula had eight Huletts. The Hulett era ended in the early 1980's when Lake Boats began using self-unloaders.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.
Location. 41° 54.055′ N, 80° 47.961′ W. Marker has been reported unreadable. Marker is in Ashtabula, Ohio, in Ashtabula County. Marker can be reached from Walnut Boulevard east of Hulbert Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Unfortunately, the section
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 13, 2019
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Bascule Lift Bridge (a few steps from this marker); Point Park (within shouting distance of this marker); American Merchant Marine Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); The Run Away Lake Erie Buoy (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ship Air Funnel (about 300 feet away); The Ashtabula River (about 400 feet away); 1003 (about 400 feet away); 1005 (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ashtabula.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 17, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 699 times since then and 274 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 17, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.