NEWAYGO

The Newaygo, a steambarge, was built in 1890 at Marine City, Michigan. It was constructed with one stack, diagonal straps, a steel boiler house, and steam pumps. The vessel was made of wood and had a single deck. Alex Anderson served as both the builder and master carpenter. The original owner of the Newaygo was the Mills Transportation Co., located in Marysville, Michigan.

Powered by a screw propulsion system, the Newaygo was equipped with a fore-and-aft compound engine featuring two cylinders. The engine, manufactured by Frontier Engine Works, had cylinder dimensions of 23 inches and 46 inches, providing 685 horsepower at 80 revolutions per minute. The vessel also had a firebox boiler measuring 10 feet by 16 feet and operating at 120 pounds of steam, which was built by Love & Schofield in Port Huron, Michigan in 1890.

The hull of the Newaygo had a length of 196 feet, a beam of 37.2 feet, and a depth of 13.4 feet. It had a gross tonnage of 906.26 and a net tonnage of 697.81. The vessel had a capacity of 1350 tons or 850,000 board feet of lumber.

On November 16, 1903, the Newaygo met its final fate when it stranded on Devil’s Island in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. The vessel sank to a depth of 30 inches due to subsequent storms after being caught in a blizzard-gale. At the time of the accident, the Newaygo was carrying a cargo of coal and had been towing the barge Checotah.

Throughout its history, the Newaygo was involved in various activities and experienced a few notable incidents. After its launch on July 17, 1890, in Marine City, Michigan, it was enrolled in Port Huron on August 5 of the same year. The Newaygo was primarily engaged in towing barges, including the Checotah and Alex Anderson, in the iron ore and lumber trade. In September 1892, it towed the J.D. Sawyer. In May 1893, the vessel operated between Duluth and Bay City, transporting 800,000 board feet of lumber. In September of that year, the Newaygo required repairs in Duluth, Minnesota, after springing a leak.

The vessel also encountered some grounding incidents. On August 30, 1895, it ran aground at Germania Park in the Niagara River but was successfully released. On August 18, 1898, the Newaygo again grounded, this time with a load of ore on Strawberry Island in the Niagara River. It was freed with the assistance of tugs Gee and Babcock.

In September 1901, the Newaygo was towed by the J.R. Edwards. However, on November 17, 1903, the vessel’s final voyage ended in tragedy when it stranded in Lake Huron.