PUCKASAW

Site description

The tugboat known as John Hunsader was built in 1910 in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, by Thomas N. Smith & Son. The vessel was constructed using wood and had a steeple compound engine with two cylinders. The engine, manufactured by Murphy Iron Works in Detroit, Michigan, had dimensions of 22 + 40 x 30 inches. The tugboat was equipped with a single propeller and was powered by a 11 1/2 x 13 1/2-foot scotch boiler.

The John Hunsader had a length of 97.58 feet, a beam of 26.58 feet, and a depth of 12.42 feet. Its gross tonnage was recorded as 210, with a net tonnage of 143. It was originally owned by Thomas N. Smith of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, with Leathem & Smith also noted as builders and owners.

In 1915, ownership of the tugboat transferred to Leathem & Smith. By 1919, the vessel underwent some modifications and was reclassified with the official number C138866. Its dimensions were adjusted to 96 x 26 x 12.33 feet, with a gross tonnage of 231 and a registered tonnage of 93.

In 1921, the tugboat was renamed Puckasaw. It continued its operations under this new name until 1933 when ownership transferred to the Newaygo Timber Company based in Port Arthur, Ontario. Finally, in 1936, the Puckasaw was intentionally scuttled near B Island in the Welcome Islands on Lake Superior.

The history of the John Hunsader and later the Puckasaw showcases its involvement in the towing and transportation industry, serving various owners and operating in different locations. However, its journey came to an end as it found its final resting place beneath the waters of Lake Superior.