Shipwreck Report: MINNIE HALL (1902)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: MINNIE HALL
• Former Names: Possibly renamed MINITAGA in 1898 (unconfirmed)
• Official Number: C90696
• Type at Loss: Wooden Propeller Steam Tug
• Date Built and Launched: 1869
• Builder: Simpson, St. Catharines, Ontario
• Measurements: 68 ft (20.7 m) length, 14 ft (4.3 m) beam, 7 ft (2.1 m) depth
• Tonnage: 42 gross tons
• Date Lost: July 2, 1902
• Place of Loss: Mouth of the Magnetawan River, near Byng Inlet, Lake Huron

Vessel Type

Wooden Propeller Steam Tug

Description

The MINNIE HALL was a small wooden steam Tug, built in 1869 in St. Catharines, Ontario, and used primarily for towing and assisting vessels in harbours and along shipping routes.

The vessel underwent a major Rebuild in 1882, likely reinforcing her Hull and machinery to extend her operational life.

She was registered out of St. Catharines, though by 1898, one source suggests that she may have been renamed MINITAGA—however, this remains unconfirmed.

By 1902, MINNIE HALL was still in active service, operating near Byng Inlet and the Magnetawan River, key locations for lumber and shipping industries along Lake Huron’s northeastern shore.

Final Voyage & Loss

On July 2, 1902, while operating near the mouth of the Magnetawan River, MINNIE HALL caught fire and was completely destroyed.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, but steam tugs were particularly vulnerable to boiler and engine-related fires, as well as accidental ignition from sparks or cargo.

Details regarding casualties are unclear, but there are no confirmed reports of loss of life.

The wreck was never salvaged, and the vessel was declared a Total Loss.

Final Disposition

Burned and destroyed at the mouth of the Magnetawan River, near Byng Inlet, Lake Huron, on July 2, 1902.

• Cause of fire unknown
• Declared a Total Loss
• No confirmed fatalities

Located By & Date Found

Nil—there are no confirmed reports of MINNIE HALL‘s wreck being located.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil—no known navigational advisories related to the wreck site.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Ontario Shipwreck Research

Conclusion

The MINNIE HALL was a veteran Great Lakes steam Tug, operating for over 30 years before being lost to fire in 1902.

Her precise fate remains somewhat mysterious, particularly regarding her possible renaming as MINITAGA in 1898.

If discovered, the wreck could provide insight into early steam tugs on the Great Lakes, as well as the industrial history of the Byng Inlet region, which was an important hub for the logging industry at the time.

Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

• Keywords: MINNIE HALL shipwreck, Lake Huron steam Tug fire, Magnetawan River wreck, Byng Inlet maritime history, 19th-century steam tugs
• Categories: Lake Huron Shipwrecks, Steam Tug Losses, Fire-Related Shipwrecks, 19th-Century Maritime Disasters, Unlocated Shipwrecks
• Glossary Terms:
• Steam Tug: A small, powerful boat used for towing larger vessels, assisting in harbors, and maneuvering ships in narrow passages.
• Byng Inlet: A key shipping and logging location in northeastern Lake Huron, significant in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Magnetawan River: A major waterway in Ontario, historically important for logging and shipping operations.