Fish Tugs of the Greatest Lake

LIBERTY

Built on Madeline Island in the early 1920s, the 50 ft. gas boat was first used to tow barge-loads of logs from Russell Bay, on Madeline, to Ashland. It also towed a barge, with a capacity of one car, between LaPointe and Bayfield. J.M. Gordon, Bayfield, did freighting among the islands for a number of years, and after sitting ashore for a time the boat was acquired by Laurie Nourse, Sr. and used in the commercial fishing trade. The fantail was shortened by 3 ft.

By 1965 the boat had been ashore at Salmo for some time, and was a total wreck. It was eventually burned.