William E. Corey was launched on June 24, 1905, as hull number #67.

Shortly after her launch the brand new William E. Corey encountered one of the worst storms in Great Lakes history, the Mataafa Storm of 1905.

During a very short period of time the temperatures dropped to −12 °F (−24 °C) and the winds reached hurricane force.

[1] Over the next fifty three years William E. Corey changed hands many times until in 1963 she was sold to the Upper Lakes Shipping Company and renamed Ridgetown.

[2] The ship served for seven more years until in May 1970 when she was scuttled as a temporary breakwater at Nanticoke, Ontario in the summer.