Port Credit in Mississauga in Peel Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Ridgetown

Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 26, 2024

1. The Ridgetown Marker

Inscription.

The Ridgetown. . , Since 1974 the Ridgetown has been a familiar sight at the entrance to the Port Credit harbour. The Ridgetown was built as the S.S. William E. Corey, and was launched on June 24, 1905 by the Chicago Shipbuilding Company. She served as the flagship for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company and sailed out of Cleveland, Ohio., The William E. Corey made her maiden voyage on August 12, 1905 bound for Duluth, Minnesota to take on a load of iron ore., The Corey was one of many ships caught in the infamous "Matafa Blow" on Lake Superior on November 28, 1905. During the hurricane-force storm, the Corey was driven hard aground onto the Gull Island Reef in the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior. The storm raged for three days, wrecked 30 vessels, and claimed the lives of 78 sailors. Ships lost in the storm included Lafayette, William Edenborn, Madeira, George Herbert, Vega, J.H. Outhwaite, Ira H. Owen, Monkhaven, and Matafa, amongst others. Many mariners called the Mataafa Blow the worst "Witch of November" storm in the history of the Great Lakes., The Corey survived, barely. After taking a terrible beating. a massive effort was required to free her. At one time the salvage force included 158 men, four steamers and two tugs. On December 10, 1905 the Corey was finally pulled free and refloated. , The Corey, having sailed the Great Lakes for just over 54 years, was laid up at Duluth in early 1960. In 1963 the Corey was sold to the Upper Lakes Shipping Company and renamed Ridgetown. The ageing Ridgetown served for several more years, until she was laid up in Toronto on November 17, 1969, effectively ending her career., The Ridgetown had faithfully traversed the Great Lakes for 64 years. In May of 1970 she was sold to the Canadian Dredge and Dry Dock Company, Ltd. of Toronto, and was brought to Nanticoke and scuttled as a temporary breakwater. Later refloated, the Ridgetown was brought to Port Credit on June 21, 1974, where she was loaded with stone and cement and sunk to become a permanent breakwater. The ship registry for the Ridgetown was closed on June 19, 1974, but has since become a familiar and beloved site in Port Credit.

Since 1974 the Ridgetown has been a familiar sight at the entrance to the Port Credit harbour. The Ridgetown was built as the S.S. William E. Corey, and was launched on June 24, 1905 by the Chicago Shipbuilding Company. She served as the flagship for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company and sailed out of Cleveland, Ohio.

The William E. Corey made her maiden voyage on August 12, 1905 bound for Duluth, Minnesota to take on a load of iron ore.

The Corey was one of many ships caught in the infamous "Matafa Blow" on Lake Superior on November 28, 1905. During the hurricane-force storm, the Corey was driven hard aground onto the Gull Island Reef in the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior. The storm raged for three days, wrecked 30 vessels, and claimed the lives of 78 sailors. Ships lost in the storm included Lafayette, William Edenborn, Madeira, George Herbert, Vega, J.H. Outhwaite, Ira H. Owen, Monkhaven, and Matafa, amongst others. Many mariners called the Mataafa Blow the worst "Witch of November" storm in the history of the Great Lakes.

The Corey survived, barely. After taking a terrible beating. a massive effort was required to free her. At one time the salvage force included 158 men, four steamers and two tugs. On December 10, 1905 the Corey

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was finally pulled free and refloated.

The Corey, having sailed the Great Lakes for just over 54 years, was laid up at Duluth in early 1960. In 1963 the Corey was sold to the Upper Lakes Shipping Company and renamed Ridgetown. The ageing Ridgetown served for several more years, until she was laid up in Toronto on November 17, 1969, effectively ending her career.

The Ridgetown had faithfully traversed the Great Lakes for 64 years. In May of 1970 she was sold to the Canadian Dredge and Dry Dock Company, Ltd. of Toronto, and was brought to Nanticoke and scuttled as a temporary breakwater. Later refloated, the Ridgetown was brought to Port Credit on June 21, 1974, where she was loaded with stone and cement and sunk to become a permanent breakwater. The ship registry for the Ridgetown was closed on June 19, 1974, but has since become a familiar and beloved site in Port Credit.

Erected by Heritage Mississauga.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1905.

Location. 43° 32.907′ N, 79° 34.827′ W. Marker is in Mississauga, Ontario, in Peel Region. It is in Port Credit. It can be reached from Port Street East. The marker is by

Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 26, 2024

2. The Ridgetown Marker

the water’s edge in J.J. Plaus Park, approx. 300 metres from the parking lot at the end of Stavebank Road south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mississauga ON L5G 4N1, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto,

specifically on the Golden Horseshoe,

and in the Toronto Metropolitan Area.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Lighthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); The Changing Port (within shouting distance of this marker); A Sailor’s Memorial (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Remembering the Stonehookers (about 90 meters away); The Harvest (about 150 meters away); Credit River - Rivière Crédit (about 180 meters away); The Mills of the Credit River (about 210 meters away); The Harbour (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mississauga.

Also see . . . Mataafa Storm (Wikipedia).

The Mataafa Storm of 1905 was a storm that occurred on the Great Lakes on November 27–28, 1905. The system moved across the Great Basin with moderate depth on November 26 and November 27, then east-northeastward across the Great Lakes on November 28. Fresh east winds were forecast for the afternoon and evening of November 27, with storm warnings in effect by the morning of November 28. Storm-force winds and heavy snows accompanied the cyclone's passage. The storm, named after the steamship Mataafa, ended up destroying or damaging about 29 vessels, killing 36 seamen,
Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 26, 2024

3. The Ridgetown, Port Credit harbour, 2024
and causing shipping losses of US$ 3.567 million (1905 dollars) on Lake Superior.

(Submitted on October 17, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 19, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 243 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 17, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.