Identification & Site Information

• Name: Winnana
• Other Names: Rebuilt as Keenan; also referred to as Winnana in some sources
• Official Registration Number: C122414
• Date Built and Launched: Built in 1907 in Midland, Ontario
• Measurements: 92 ft (28 m) length x 20 ft (6.1 m) beam; Gross Tonnage: 199 tons; Net Tonnage: 125 tons
• Date Lost: November 19, 1909
• Place of Loss: Tobermory, Ontario
• Lake: Lake Huron

Vessel Type

The Winnana was a steel-hulled, propeller-driven steam mailboat, designed to transport mail, passengers, and light cargo along the waterways of the Great Lakes, particularly serving smaller, remote communities.

Description

Constructed in 1907, the Winnana was a compact but efficient mailboat, serving the essential role of connecting isolated settlements in the Georgian Bay and North Channel areas with larger urban centers. With a steel Hull and steam propulsion, she represented a modern, durable design for regional maritime transport at the time.

History

The Winnana served as a steam mailboat, delivering mail and possibly light freight and passengers to communities around Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. Such vessels were crucial in maintaining communication and supply lines in areas not yet fully connected by road or rail.

On November 19, 1909, while docked at Tobermory, Ontario—a key port at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula—the Winnana caught fire and was gutted. The cause of the fire remains unspecified, and details about potential casualties or cargo losses are unknown. The damage was severe enough for the vessel to be declared a Total Loss.

However, the Winnana was salvaged and Rebuilt the following year, returning to service under the name Keenan. In 1926, the vessel underwent another significant modification, being converted from steam power to motor propulsion, reflecting broader shifts in maritime technology on the Great Lakes.

After several more years in service, the Keenan was eventually Abandoned in 1939, marking the end of her operational life.

Final Disposition

After being gutted by fire in 1909 and subsequently Rebuilt, the vessel continued service as Keenan until her abandonment in 1939. There are no records indicating salvage or preservation efforts beyond her operational years.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No specific navigational warnings or obstructions related to the Winnana/Keenan have been issued.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Maritime Database
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Save Ontario Shipwrecks
• David Swayze Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The Winnana reflects the critical role that small steam mailboats played in maintaining connections between isolated communities and larger urban centers on the Great Lakes. Though her life was interrupted by a devastating fire in 1909, her subsequent rebuilding and Conversion to motor power illustrate the adaptability and resilience of vessels operating in the region. Her eventual abandonment in 1939 marked the end of an era as advancements in transportation infrastructure reduced the reliance on such ships.

Suggested Keywords: Winnana, Keenan, Tobermory shipwrecks, Lake Huron mailboats, Great Lakes steam mailboats, Georgian Bay maritime history.

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Huron, Early 20th Century Great Lakes Vessels, Mailboats of the Great Lakes.

Glossary Terms: Steam Mailboat, Propeller-Driven Vessel, Fire Loss Shipwreck, Motor Conversion, Tobermory Maritime History.