Identification & Site Information

• Name: Winslow

• Type: Wooden Tugboat (Towboat, later Rebuilt as a Wrecker)

• Date Built: 1865

• Builder: Quayle & Martin, Cleveland, Ohio

• Master Carpenter: John Drackett

• Final Disposition: Burned and sunk on August 21, 1911, in Meldrum Bay, Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron

• Wreck Status: Wreckage was removed in 1938

• Dimensions:

• Length: 129 feet 3 inches (39.4 m)

• Beam: 21 feet 9 inches (6.6 m)

• Depth: 10 feet 9 inches (3.3 m; later 17.4 feet or 5.3 m post-Rebuild)

• Depth: 20 feet of fresh water (20 ffw / ~7 m)

• Tonnage:

• Original: 292 tons (old measurement)

• Rebuilt: 290.54 gross tons, 186.41 net tons

• Engine Details:

• Original Engine: single-cylinder, low-pressure engine (30 x 30 inches), likely by Cuyahoga Steam Furnace Co.

• Replacement Engine (1892): Steeple compound engine, 22 and 40 x 30 inches, 375 horsepower, built by Marine Iron Works, Bay City, Michigan.

Vessel Type

The Winslow was a wooden Tugboat that later transitioned into a wrecker vessel. It served in towing, rafting, and salvage operations, performing essential maritime work on the Great Lakes.

Description

Built in 1865 in Cleveland, Ohio, the Winslow was an early-generation wooden Tugboat with a Screw Propulsion system, a design well-suited for towing and salvage. The vessel’s robust build and adaptability allowed it to undergo significant repairs, modifications, and changes in ownership over its decades-long service.

• Originally fitted with a low-pressure single-cylinder engine taken from an earlier Tug named Winslow (1862).

• Rebuilt and re-engined in 1892 with a steeple compound engine that vastly improved its power and performance.

Following its Rebuild in 1893, the Winslow was reconfigured as a wrecker, specializing in salvaging vessels and equipment. This work was vital as Great Lakes shipping expanded and more vessels succumbed to the lakes’ hazards.

Ownership Timeline

• Original Owners: N.C. & H.J. Winslow of Cleveland, Ohio

• Later Owners:

• Tug Association

• Ballentine, Crawford & Company, Detroit, Michigan

• Saginaw Bay Towing Company, Bay City, Michigan (1892)

• J.S. Boutell, Bay City

• Reid Towing & Wrecking Company, Sarnia, Ontario

Notable Incidents

• 1870: Collision with the vessel Wabash.

• 1871: Charged with a breach of revenue laws, a common occurrence when towboats faced regulatory challenges.

• 1892: Underwent a major engine upgrade, increasing its horsepower and efficiency.

• 1893: Rebuilt as a wrecker with increased dimensions and tonnage to serve salvage operations.

Final Disposition

On August 21, 1911, while operating in Meldrum Bay, located off Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron, the Winslow caught fire. The blaze consumed the vessel, and it ultimately sank in 20 feet of water (7 meters).

The wreckage remained underwater for decades until 1938, when it was removed, likely to clear navigational hazards.

Legacy

The Winslow’s long service and transformation reflect the evolution of Great Lakes maritime industries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a Tugboat and later a wrecker, it contributed significantly to commerce and salvage work, assisting countless vessels during the region’s booming shipping era.

Its dramatic end in Meldrum Bay serves as a reminder of the hazards faced by working vessels on the Great Lakes, particularly wooden ships vulnerable to fire.

Site Location

• Meldrum Bay: Located on the western edge of Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron, an area known for its deep maritime history and tranquil beauty.

• Wreck Depth: 20 ffw (7 meters)

Although the wreck has been removed, the site remains of interest to historians and divers exploring the maritime history of Lake Huron.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Great Lakes Shipwrecks and Vessels

• David Swayze Shipwreck File: Details on ship incidents and wrecks.

• Manitoulin Island Tourism: Historical insights into Meldrum Bay and surrounding waters.

Suggested Keywords & Categories

• Keywords: Winslow Tugboat, Meldrum Bay wreck, Lake Huron maritime history, Great Lakes wreckers, Reid Towing & Wrecking Company.

• Categories: Tugboats and Wreckers, Lake Huron Shipwrecks, Wooden Vessel Fires, Great Lakes Maritime Heritage.

Let me know if you need further details, maps of Meldrum Bay, or information on other wreckers of this period! 🌊🚢