(Also known as Coalhurst, Greenland, and Neebing)

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

Vessel Name:

John B. Ketcham 2nd

(Also known as Coalhurst, Greenland, and Neebing)

Type:

Wooden Freighter with Derrick (Steambarge)

Built:

1892, Craig Shipbuilding Co., Toledo, Ohio

Dimensions:

•Length: 193.4 feet (58.9 meters)

•Beam: 40.5 feet (12.3 meters)

•Depth: 13 feet (3.96 meters)

•Gross Tonnage: 908.88 tons

•Net Tonnage: 779.82 tons

•Cargo Capacity: 1,500 tons

Propulsion:

•Engine: Steeple compound steam engine (two cylinders: 22 inches and 42 inches), 600 HP at 110 rpm

•Boiler: Scotch boiler, 11 feet 6 inches x 13 feet, steam pressure 125 pounds

•Manufacturers:

•Engine: Dry Dock Engine Works (1892)

•Boiler: Globe Iron Works, Cleveland, Ohio

Final Location:

•Site: Nipigon Strait, Lake Superior, off Moss Island

•Coordinates: 48° 39.80’ N, 88° 07.80’ W

•Depth: Final resting depth of 100 feet (30.5 meters)

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The John B. Ketcham 2nd was a robust wooden freighter equipped with a derrick for cargo handling. Its single Deck, steel reinforcements, and three bulkheads made it ideal for the tough conditions of the Great Lakes. The steambarge was well-suited for carrying bulk cargo, such as gravel, grain, and lumber, across the region. The vessel’s long service life and multiple ownership changes reflect its adaptability and value in regional commerce.

HISTORY

The John B. Ketcham 2nd began its career in 1892 as a versatile steambarge, operating under various owners and charter agreements. Initially owned by Oscar P. Bills and Edmund B. Koch of Toledo, Ohio, the vessel changed hands numerous times throughout its operational life.

Key Events and Ownership Changes

•1902: Chartered to Richardson Lumber Co.

•1920: Renamed Greenland; continued to face challenges, including collisions and groundings.

•1927: Renamed twice, first as Coalhurst and then as Neebing.

•1930s: Owned by Sin-Mac Lines Ltd. of Montreal, marking the vessel’s final phase of operation.

Notable Incidents

•Frequent accidents, including collisions and being blown onto a pier, plagued the vessel.

•In its later years, it was a workhorse in the gravel and lumber trade, operating on the rugged waters of Lake Superior and other Great Lakes.

FINAL VOYAGE & SINKING

On September 24, 1937, the John B. Ketcham 2nd (then named Neebing) sank during a gale off Eagle’s Nest Point in Nipigon Strait, Lake Superior. While carrying a load of gravel destined for Red Rock, Ontario, the vessel succumbed to severe weather conditions.

Details of the Loss

•Casualties: 5 of the 14 crew members perished.

•Wreck Condition: The steambarge settled in 100 feet of water, remaining largely intact but bearing the marks of its violent sinking.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

The wreck of the John B. Ketcham 2nd lies in the clear, cold waters of Lake Superior at a depth of 100 feet, making it accessible to experienced divers. The wreck’s location off Moss Island is a popular site for underwater exploration, with the vessel’s structure offering insight into the design and construction of 19th-century wooden freighters. The cold freshwater has likely preserved much of the ship’s Hull and machinery.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

There are no specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) for this wreck, but divers should exercise caution due to potential entanglement hazards and variable water conditions in the Nipigon Strait.

RESOURCES & LINKS

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Records detailing the vessel’s operational history and final voyage.

•David Swayze Shipwreck File: Comprehensive documentation of Great Lakes shipwrecks.

•Diver Resources:

•Local dive shops and clubs offering guided exploration of Lake Superior wrecks.

•Advanced Diver Magazine articles on Great Lakes shipwrecks.

•Historical Shipbuilding Records:

•Craig Shipbuilding Co., Toledo archives for vessel construction details.

KEYWORDS

John B. Ketcham 2nd, Nipigon Strait, Lake Superior shipwreck, wooden freighter, steambarge, Coalhurst, Greenland, Neebing, Great Lakes maritime history, Moss Island wreck, Sin-Mac Lines Ltd.

ANALYSIS

The John B. Ketcham 2nd epihttps://shotlinediving.com/wp-content/uploads/52895851813_b64678c0f7_c.jpgizes the multi-faceted history of Great Lakes shipping, serving various roles and owners throughout its long career. Its resilience, adaptability, and ultimate loss reflect both the opportunities and dangers of navigating the vast inland seas. The wreck is a testament to the era’s shipbuilding and the indomitable spirit of those who sailed these treacherous waters.

aka COALHURST and JOHN B. KETCHUM 2nd.

Wooden Freighter with Derrick

110 32m

In Nipigon Straits off Moss Island

48 39.80′ N
88 07.80′ W

The John B. Ketcham 2nd was a steambarge built in 1892 at Toledo, Ohio. It had various other names throughout its history, including Greenland, Neebing, and Coalhurst. The vessel had the official number 77037 and was constructed by the Craig Shipbuilding Co. It had a steel Hull with a single Deck and three bulkheads.

Powered by a steeple compound steam engine with two cylinders (22 and 42 inches), the John B. Ketcham 2nd had a horsepower of 600 at 110 rpm. It had a single propeller and was equipped with a scotch boiler measuring 11 feet 6 inches by 13 feet, providing steam at 125 pounds. The engine was built by Dry Dock Engine Works in 1892, and the boiler was manufactured by Globe Iron Works in Cleveland, Ohio.

The dimensions of the vessel were approximately 193.4 feet in length, 40.5 feet in beam, and 13 feet in depth. It had a Gross Tonnage of 908.88 and a Net Tonnage of 779.82. The steambarge had a capacity of 1,500 tons.

On September 24, 1937, the John B. Ketcham 2nd met its final fate off Eagle’s Nest Point in Nipigon Strait, Lake Superior. It sank in a gale while bound for Red Rock, Ontario, carrying gravel as cargo. Five out of the 14 crew members were lost in the incident. The vessel came to rest at a final depth of 100 feet.

Throughout its history, the John B. Ketcham 2nd had various owners and underwent several incidents. It was initially owned by Oscar P. Bills and Edmund B. Koch of Toledo, Ohio. It changed ownership multiple times and was involved in accidents, collisions, and grounding incidents. It was chartered to Richardson Lumber Co. in 1902 and later owned by Reid Wrecking Co. and George Hall Coal Co.

In 1920, the steambarge was renamed Greenland. It experienced further accidents and mishaps, including running ashore and being blown on a pier. In 1927, it was renamed Coalhurst and then Neebing in the same year. The vessel was ultimately owned by Sin-Mac Lines Ltd. in Montreal before its sinking in Lake Superior in 1937.