The CITY OF ALPENA, a propeller steam tug, had a brief but eventful history before meeting its tragic end. Built in 1874 in either New Jerusalem, Ohio, or New Baltimore, Michigan, the tug served the bustling waters of Lake Huron. It measured 72 feet in length, 17 feet in width, and 10 feet in depth, with a gross tonnage of 76.
Owned by D. Crippen of Alpena, Michigan, the CITY OF ALPENA began its service in October 1875. However, it encountered a collision with the schooner MT. BLANC on Lake Erie on October 10, 1876, just a year after its launch. Despite this incident, the tug continued its operations under new ownership.
In 1879, George W. Colwell of AuSable, Michigan, assumed ownership of the CITY OF ALPENA. On August 9, 1880, tragedy struck when the tug caught fire approximately half a mile offshore, near Alcona, Michigan. The fire quickly engulfed the vessel, leaving the crew with no choice but to abandon ship using small boats. The CITY OF ALPENA burned to the waterline, resulting in a total loss.
The official documents for the tug were surrendered at Port Huron on September 30, 1880, with the notation “burned, total loss.” George W. Colwell, who owned the vessel at the time, was likely its master as well. In the aftermath of the fire, the machinery of the CITY OF ALPENA was removed on November 18, 1880, further sealing its fate.
Although the CITY OF ALPENAs life was cut short, it serves as a reminder of the perils faced by vessels navigating the Great Lakes during that era. Its fiery demise left no loss of life, but it marked the end of a significant chapter in the maritime history of Lake Huron. The tug’s brief but eventful existence is a testament to the challenging conditions faced by mariners and the enduring stories held by the waters of the Great Lakes.
