Shipwreck Report: Spanish Mills and Tug Wahnapitea

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Name: Spanish Mills and Tug Wahnapitea Wreck

• Area: North Channel, Lake Huron

• Location: Wyatt Bay, Aird Island, near the town of Spanish, Ontario

• GPS Coordinates: Not explicitly provided but near the entrance to Little Detroit.

• Depth: Wreck is visible at approximately 20 feet (6 meters).

• Type of Wreck: Tugboat (Wahnapitea) and various logging-era debris.

HISTORY OF SPANISH MILLS

Spanish Mills was once a thriving small-town settlement built around a lumber mill operation.

• Peak Population: Over 200 residents in the early 1920s.

• Infrastructure:

• Dozen homes for management.

• Boarding house, school, church, dance hall, and general store.

• Decline:

• The mill operations ceased in 1927 due to economic downturns.

• Machinery was salvaged and sent to Skead, near Sudbury.

• Sturdy homes were moved to the mainland, while others were Abandoned or burned.

The Tug Wahnapitea

• Owned and operated by the mill, the Tug served to transport lumber and other goods.

• Sunk in the Detroit Channel (near Wyatt Bay), becoming a visible wreck site resting 20 feet below the surface.

SITE DESCRIPTION

Debris Field

• Location: Around the bay, extending from the east entrance of Little Detroit.

• Notable Features:

• Logging debris, including wagon wheels, tools, bottles, and spittoons.

• Centerboard from a small sailing vessel.

• Large piles of lumber stacked as if awaiting shipment.

Marine Railway Remains

• Found near the Little Detroit entrance, remnants of a small marine railway can be explored.

Condition

• The Tug Wahnapitea is remarkably preserved, visible on clear days.

• Surrounding debris fields provide insight into early 20th-century logging operations.

DIVING DETAILS

Experience Rating

• Novice to Advanced:

• Shallow Exploration: Most debris and the Wahnapitea wreck can be seen at 20 feet.

• Advanced Divers: Deeper exploration, with debris fields extending to over 100 feet.

Visibility

• Visibility may vary depending on weather and water conditions but is often sufficient to see much of the wreckage.

Accessibility

• Directions:

• From the town of Spanish, travel by boat to the Little Detroit passage.

• Turn immediately right (south) to locate Wyatt Bay.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The Spanish Mills and the Tug Wahnapitea wreck serve as a snapshot of early 20th-century logging and community life in Northern Ontario. The site offers a combination of industrial, cultural, and environmental history, showcasing the interplay between logging operations and maritime transportation on the Great Lakes.

CONCLUSION

This site is an excellent dive spot for history enthusiasts and those interested in Great Lakes maritime history. The well-preserved wreck of the Tug Wahnapitea and the surrounding debris fields provide valuable insights into the bygone era of the Spanish Mills logging industry.

TAGS

#SpanishMills #TugWahnapitea #LakeHuron #Shipwreck #LoggingHistory #GreatLakesDiving