Identification & Site Information

• Other Names: None
• Official Number: 95682
• Vessel Type: Wooden propeller bulk freight steambarge
• Builder: W.E. Hall, Mt. Clemens, Michigan
• Year Built: 1883
• Specifications: Length: 105 ft (32 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 136 tons
• Net Tonnage: 107 tons
• Owner: Kelley’s Island Lime and Transport Co.

Service History & Role

The Handy Boy was a small wooden steam-powered bulk freighter, often referred to as a steambarge. She was built in 1883 and was primarily used for transporting bulk materials such as lime, stone, and other industrial goods across Lake Erie and connecting waterways.

Owned by Kelley’s Island Lime and Transport Co., the vessel played a key role in the Great Lakes lime trade, hauling cargo from Kelleys Island, Ohio, which was known for its extensive limestone quarries. Lime was a critical material for construction and industry, but it also posed fire hazards due to its chemical properties.

Final Voyage & Loss – September 4, 1888

On September 4, 1888, the Handy Boy was traveling upbound on Lake Erie when a fire broke out aboard the vessel. Given her cargo of lime, which can spontaneously combust when exposed to moisture, it is likely that a chemical reaction ignited the blaze.

• As soon as the fire was discovered, the crew attempted to contain it, but the flames spread too quickly.
• Recognizing the danger, the captain made the split-second decision to beach the vessel near Huron, Ohio, in an attempt to save the crew.
• The ship burned to a Total Loss in the shallows, with no loss of life.

Final Disposition & Wreck Site

• Location: Near Huron, Ohio, Lake Erie
• Depth: Likely shallow water or completely lost to fire and salvage operations
• Condition: Burned completely; no known wreckage remains

Located By & Date Found

Nil return

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return

Resources & Links

📖 More on Great Lakes Shipwrecks:
🔗 Maritime History of the Great Lakes
🔗 Great Lakes Shipwreck Research
🔗 David Swayze Shipwreck File
🔗 Save Ontario Shipwrecks

Conclusion

The Handy Boy was an example of the risks faced by 19th-century bulk carriers on the Great Lakes, especially those transporting flammable or reactive cargoes like lime. Although her crew managed to escape unharmed, the vessel was completely destroyed. Today, her loss remains a cautionary tale in the history of Great Lakes shipping and industrial transport.

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