Site Description #
- Sreat team Barge
- 221ft 70m Length
- Depths 10fft 3m
- Alpena, Lake Huron
- N45°01.271’ W83°15.763’
The Tragic End of the B.W. BLANCHARD: From Package Freighter to Wrecked Vessel #
The B.W. Blanchard, originally built as a package freighter in 1870, had a varied and eventful history on the Great Lakes. With its arch-braced structure, two stacks, and propulsion by a steeple compound engine, this wooden propeller vessel was a notable presence on the waters. However, its story took a tragic turn on November 28, 1904, when the B.W. Blanchard met its demise on North Point Reef in Thunder Bay, Lake Huron. This article explores the construction and specifications of the vessel, its operational history, the circumstances surrounding its final loss, and the aftermath of the wreck.
The B.W. Blanchard was constructed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1870 by the shipbuilders Quayle & Martin. Initially built as a package freighter, this wooden vessel featured a length of 212.3 feet, a beam of 32.4 feet, and a depth of 12.2 feet. It had a gross tonnage of 1173.01 and was powered by a steeple compound engine, boasting 400 horsepower at 75 rpm. The B.W. Blanchard was equipped with two boilers and had a single propeller for propulsion.
From 1870 to 1886, the B.W. Blanchard served as a package freighter, shuttling cargo between Chicago, Milwaukee, and Buffalo. It often towed barges such as the G.S. Hazard or F.A. Georger. The vessel underwent several incidents, including collisions with the steamer Arizona in 1873 and a scow named Mary Garrett in 1878. It also suffered damage from fires in Milwaukee in 1884 and 1885.
In 1902, the B.W. Blanchard was sold and underwent significant reconstruction. It was converted into a steambarge, primarily used for carrying lumber. The vessel was reduced to one deck, two masts, and one stack, with one of its boilers removed. The reconstruction took place in Chicago, and the vessel’s dimensions were altered to 221 feet in length, 32.4 feet in width, and 11.8 feet in depth. Its gross tonnage decreased to 919.62, and its net tonnage became 526.95.
On November 28, 1904, the B.W. Blanchard was en route from Cheboygan, Michigan, to Detroit with a tow of two barges: the J.T. Johnson and John Kelderhouse, loaded with lumber. The vessel encountered a gale and was driven onto North Point Reef in Thunder Bay, Lake Huron. The violent impact caused the B.W. Blanchard to break in half, leading to its ultimate destruction. Fortunately, there was no loss of life among the crew members, and they were rescued by the U.S. Life Saving Service. The wrecked vessel was abandoned, but efforts were made to salvage the boiler and some of the lumber in the days following the disaster.
The B.W. Blanchard, a package freighter turned steambarge, had a storied history on the Great Lakes. Its tragic end came on November 28, 1904, when it stranded and broke apart on North Point Reef in Thunder Bay. The vessel’s final journey, laden with lumber and towing barges, met an unfortunate fate in the fierce gales of Lake Huron. The wreck of the B.W. Blanchard served as a reminder of the perils faced by mariners navigating the unpredictable
