The Kenosha was built as a large tug in 1919, hull #122, for the Emergency Fleet Corporation (which was established to operate merchant ships for national defense and domestic commerce during World War I). Work on the vessel was stopped because of the end of WWI until 1921-1922 when construction was completed. The new builder was Universal Shipbuilding, which after a few name changes is now known as Bay Shipbuilding out of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.. The large steel tug was originally built as the tug Commander, but never used as such since she was not needed after the war ended. In 1923 she was renamed the Kenosha and converted to a passenger and package freight steamer. The official registry number was 2228877. She was rebuilt in 1930.
On December 5th, 1935 the Kenosha was layed-up for the winter at a dock in Milwaukee when she caught fire and was gutted. The vessel was then repaired but was abandoned in either 1940 or 1941 at apparently Sturgeon Bay.