Mystery Photo #42: SS Columbia of Duluth
This postcard image bears the ink stamp of the Russell Photo Co. of Fond du Lac, Minn. on the back, along with a handwritten note: “The ‘Columbia’ of Duluth, Minn.” There have been numerous S.S. Columbia’s throughout the world, but this one seems likely to be the same as the one profiled on Zenith City Online, which was launched in 1885 as the Mascotte. There are numerous physical differences between the ship in the image shown there and the one shown here, but the article notes “in 1912 Duluth’s Clow & Nicholsen purchased the vessel, lengthened it by over thirty feet, and renamed it Columbia.” If they are the same SS Columbia, why do both images (presumably before and after the redesign of the ship) bear the name Columbia and neither Mascotte?
Tony Dierckins at Zenity City Online has provided a third image, shown here at the top, with the name Mascotte on the vessel. I’ve put all three images on top of each other to aid in distinguishing the differentiation in appearance.
Well, but isn’t the main difference in the third photo that you’re looking at it from the stern instead of the bow?
Good grief. I actually got so focused on the perceived differences I didn’t realize our feature image is shot from the ass end of the ship.