Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: HENRY CHISHOLM
• Type: Wooden Bulk Freighter
• Year Built: 1880
• Builder: Cleveland, Ohio
• Official Number: 95610
• Owner: Alva Bradley of Cleveland, later Bradley Transportation Co.
• Hull Material: Wood
• Decks: Two
• Propulsion: Screw Propulsion with three masts
• Engine: For-and-aft compound engine with two cylinders
  • Dimensions: 30 and 56 inches by 48 inches
  • Manufacturer: Globe Iron Works
  • horsepower: 1000 HP
• Boilers: Two marine boilers, dimensions 8 feet 8 inches by 18 feet, operating at 100 pounds of pressure.
• Dimensions and Tonnage Length: 78.2 meters (256.5 feet) Beam: 12.0 meters (39.3 feet) Depth: 6.2 meters (20.3 feet)
• Gross Tonnage: 1775.37 tons
• Net Tonnage: 1332.18 tons

Final Location

• Wreck Site: Rock of Ages, Isle Royale, Lake Superior
• Date of Incident: October 20, 1898

Vessel Type Description

The HENRY CHISHOLM was a wooden-hulled bulk freighter, a type of vessel designed for the efficient transport of bulk cargo such as grain, iron ore, or coal across the Great Lakes. It was powered by an advanced for-and-aft compound engine, providing considerable power for towing and independent navigation. With three masts complementing its Screw Propulsion, the HENRY CHISHOLM was versatile for its era.

History

Ownership and Duties

Initially owned by Alva Bradley and later by the Bradley Transportation Co., the HENRY CHISHOLM was a workhorse of Great Lakes shipping.

1883–1898: The vessel frequently towed various barges, including: AHIRA COBB, CITY OF Cleveland, ALVA BRADLEY, ADRIATIC, JOHN MARTIN, THOMAS QUAYLE, SOUTHWEST, and D.P. RHODES.

Significant Modifications

1896: Reboilered and underwent engine repairs in Cleveland, enhancing its operational life.

Cargo and Routes

The vessel’s primary cargoes included barley, coal, and iron ore, crucial to the industrial and agricultural economy of the late 19th century.

Final Disposition

Wrecking Incident

• Date: October 20, 1898
• Location: Rock of Ages, Isle Royale, Lake Superior.
• Circumstances: During a gale, the HENRY CHISHOLM ran aground while seeking shelter.
• Cargo: 92,000 bushels of barley.
• Outcome:
  • The crew escaped safely in small boats.
  • The vessel was declared a Total Loss.
  • The boilers were recovered in August 1901.

Current Condition and Site Access

The wreck of the HENRY CHISHOLM lies near Rock of Ages in Isle Royale National Park.

Site Features: The engine and other remnants remain preserved as underwater cultural heritage.

Visibility: The site is accessible to divers and is part of the park’s preserved maritime history.

Sketchfab Resource: The engine of the HENRY CHISHOLM has been documented in 3D by NPS-SRC, available on platforms like Sketchfab for educational and research purposes.

Significance

The HENRY CHISHOLM embodies the era of wooden bulk freighters, which played a critical role in developing the Great Lakes’ industrial economy. Its advanced engine technology and operational history reflect the innovations and challenges of 19th-century maritime commerce. The vessel’s wreck at Isle Royale adds to the storied history of shipwrecks in Lake Superior, now preserved as part of the region’s underwater cultural heritage.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Comprehensive vessel records and historical context.
• National Park Service (NPS): Information on Isle Royale National Park and shipwreck sites.
• 3d Shipwrecks: Henry Chisholm Engine 3D Model.

3D Models

Shipwrecks Chisholm – Cumberland Site by 3DShipwrecks on Sketchfab

Wreck SS Henry Chisholm – Lake Superior by BeckyKaganSchott on Sketchfab

Isle Royale NP – Henry Chisholm Engine_SF by NPS-SRC on Sketchfab

Isle Royale NP – Henry Chisholm Engine_HR by NPS-SRC on Sketchfab

Keywords HENRY CHISHOLM, Bulk Freighter, Rock of Ages, Isle Royale Shipwreck, Lake Superior, Wooden Hull, Alva Bradley, Great Lakes Maritime History.