IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The MICHIGAN was originally constructed as a sidewheel car ferry for the Canadian Pacific Railway Co., designed to ferry rail cars across the Great Lakes. Built in 1890, the vessel was later converted into a bulk freighter barge in 1926. The MICHIGAN’s transition from a car ferry to a freighter barge represents a significant shift in its operational use, adapting to the changing needs of Great Lakes shipping.
HISTORY
The MICHIGAN was launched in 1890 by F.W. Wheeler & Co. in West Bay City, Michigan. As a robust steel sidewheel car ferry, it played a critical role in transporting rail cars across the Great Lakes for the Canadian Pacific Railway Co. It featured powerful 2000-horsepower engines and four scotch boilers, making it one of the most formidable vessels of its time.
In 1916, with the completion of the Windsor-Detroit rail tunnel, the need for rail ferries diminished, leading to the MICHIGAN’s retirement from car ferry service. In 1926, the vessel was repurposed as a bulk freighter barge by Newaygo Co., Ltd., of Port Arthur, Ontario, extending its operational life on the Great Lakes.
FINAL DISPOSITION
On November 14, 1943, the MICHIGAN was engaged in an operation to lighten the grain cargo from the grounded Canadian steamer RIVERTON near Hope Island, Georgian Bay. During the operation, a sudden gale struck the area, driving the MICHIGAN onto Lottie Wolf Shoal. The vessel broke in two and was declared a total loss.
Despite the treacherous conditions, the crew of the MICHIGAN was rescued the following day by a lifeboat team led by Captain Russell McPherson. The crew was safely transferred to the tug Northern and brought back to Owen Sound.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES
- Current Notices: There are no active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) associated with the MICHIGAN wreck site. Divers and search teams should consult with local authorities and maritime organizations before conducting explorations.
LOCATED BY & DATE
- Discovery: The wreck site is located northwest of Hope Island in Georgian Bay. While it has been visited by divers, there is no significant recent search or excavation reported.
RESOURCES & LINKS
- Midland Free Press: December 1, 1943 Edition
- Great Lakes Register 1912
- Great Lakes Ships
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
- Historical Collections of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Maritime History
KEYWORDS
MICHIGAN, Great Lakes, Hope Island, Georgian Bay, Bulk Freighter, Car Ferry, Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Maritime History
CONCLUSION
The MICHIGAN’s history is a testament to the adaptability and resilience of Great Lakes vessels. Originally built as a car ferry, the MICHIGAN was repurposed as a bulk freighter barge, extending its service life by several decades. Its tragic demise in a 1943 gale near Hope Island, Georgian Bay, underscores the perils of maritime navigation on the Great Lakes. The MICHIGAN’s wreck site remains a significant piece of maritime history, inviting divers and historians to explore its storied past.
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