 The American Fortitude was built as the Ernest T. Weir in Lorain in 1953 as a vessel in the National Steel fleet. In 1978, Oglebay Norton bought the boat and renamed her the Courtney Burton. Three years later, a self unloading boom was added to her deck giving her a new and longer life on the Great Lakes. Without the addition, she would probably have seen the scrap pile sometime in the 1980′s. The Courtney Burton was laid up for two years in Toledo in 2003 but was back out working the Great Lakes to open the 2005 season. She took over the route run by both the Joseph H. Frantz and the Kinsman Independent, taking wheat from Duluth Superior to Buffalo. She came into port in early June, 2006, with a load of limestone that she discharged. She was set to go over to load her grain cargo when she was diverted to Fraser Shipyards in Superior to get refitted to sail under the ownership of American Steamship Company. They had just finalized the purchase of 6 boats from the Oglebay Norton Company.In 2008, she carried a wide variety of cargos including taconite, limestone, iron ore pellets and wheat. Picture above taken Sunday, November 5, 2006
 Picture above taken Sunday, November 5, 2006
 Picture above taken Tuesday, August 15, 2006
 Picture above taken Tuesday, September 24, 2002: departing Duluth
 Picture above taken Saturday, July 6, 2002: entering the Duluth harbor
 Picture above taken Wednesday, September 26, 2001: approaching the Lift Bridge
 Picture above taken Saturday, August 18, 2001: departing Duluth
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The American Fortitude was built as the Ernest T. Weir in Lorain in 1953 as a vessel in the National Steel fleet. In 1978, Oglebay Norton bought the boat and renamed her the Courtney Burton. Three years later, a self unloading boom was added to her deck giving her a new and longer life on the Great Lakes. Without the addition, she would probably have seen the scrap pile sometime in the 1980′s. The Courtney Burton was laid up for two years in Toledo in 2003 but was back out working the Great Lakes to open the 2005 season. She took over the route run by both the Joseph H. Frantz and the Kinsman Independent, taking wheat from Duluth Superior to Buffalo. She came into port in early June, 2006, with a load of limestone that she discharged. She was set to go over to load her grain cargo when she was diverted to Fraser Shipyards in Superior to get refitted to sail under the ownership of American Steamship Company. They had just finalized the purchase of 6 boats from the Oglebay Norton Company.In 2008, she carried a wide variety of cargos including taconite, limestone, iron ore pellets and wheat.
Picture above taken Sunday, November 5, 2006
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Where in Buffalo is she located? My family got to take a trip from Detroit to Deluth wis. back in the late 60s-70s
If anyone knows where she is now let me know. I’ve been trying to follow her. My Dad was Cheif on her when she was the Weir.
She is still listed as being in Toledo.
I’ve been hoping to visit her, as she was named originally for a relative and is almost my age. Nick, how did you find she was at Buffalo? The last info I found had her in Toledo. Her owners have not responded to my request for latest location.
She is in Buffalo, New York just sitting there, just like the American Victory and Edward L. Ryerson.
Is she retired?