Fish Tugs of the Greatest Lake

W.R.BUSCH

W.R. BUSCH Built at Sturgeon Bay, WI in 1924, the 40 ft. x 11 ft. vessel was equipped with a 30-36 hp Kahlenberg oil engine, and operated out of Algoma,WI by Walter R. Busch. In the late 1930s and into the early 1940s the boat was owned by Harry Klein, Port Washington, WI. The boat was next owned by Uno Wiedeman, Chassell, MI and had a 99 hp. Oliver diesel engine and 4:1 Capitol reverse and reduction gear. In 1977 Tom Farnquist, Sault Ste. Marie, MI was the owner. A still later owner operated the boat as a fish tug/ dive tender, by now equipped with a D4600 Caterpillar diesel.

In 1981, with the engine removed and she was donated to the Saulte Ste. Marie Historical Society and put on display in the parking lot next to the Str. Valley Camp, museum ship. Still later the boat was dismantled and the stern end was put on display in the hold of the Valley Camp. This display has now been removed and destroyed.