The SS William B. Davock was a lake freighter that was constructed in 1907 by Great Lakes Engineering Works, at their St. Clair, MI facility for the Vulcan Steamship Co. (R.H. Pigott, Mgr.). She was operated by Vulcan Steamship from 1907 to 1915 in The Great Lakes coal, iron ore, grain and stone trades. In 1915 the ship came under the management of The Interlake Steamship Co. (Pickands Mather & Co., Mgrs.). While laid up for the winter (1922–23) in Fairport, Ohio, she was reconstructed and updated, this work lead to a tonnage change in the amount of 4220 gross - 2671 net. The Davock resumed its traditional trade pattern of coal carried to upper lakes ports from Lake Erie and iron ore from Lake Superior ports to the steel mills of Lake Erie and Lake Michigan.