The Puritan, also known as Ottawa and Cox, George M., was a propeller ship built in 1901 at Toledo, Ohio. It had a steel hull with three decks and four watertight bulkheads. The vessel was constructed by the Craig Ship Building Company.
Originally owned by the Graham & Morton Company, the Puritan underwent various name changes throughout its history. It was initially laid down as Ottawa for the Chicago Steamship Company but was sold before completion. The ship operated on the route from Chicago, Illinois to Benton Harbor, Michigan, Saint Joseph, Michigan, and Holland, Michigan, competing against the City of Grand Rapids.
In 1902, the Puritan had 60 staterooms added, and in 1905, it began running from Chicago to Hancock, Michigan, Houghton, Michigan, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Mackinaw Island, Sault Saint Marie, and Marquette, Michigan. During the winter of 1905, it was reboilered for improved performance.
In 1908, the vessel underwent a lengthening of its midsection in Chicago, resulting in new dimensions of 300 feet in length, 40.5 feet in beam, and 21.9 feet in depth. Its tonnage increased to 1762 gross tons and 1267 net tons.
The Puritan had an engine type of triple expansion with three cylinders and was equipped with four 11-foot by 10-foot scotch boilers, generating 1700 horsepower at 110 rpm. The boilers were manufactured by Johnston Brothers of Ferrysburg, Michigan and operated at 200 pounds of steam.
In April 1918, the Puritan was transferred to the US Navy and used for coastal service. Its second deck was enclosed, although it was not ultimately utilized as a troop transport. In September 1919, the vessel came under the ownership of the Chicago, Racine & Milwaukee Line and was outfitted as an overnight cruise ship along with the Manitou and Missouri.
Ownership of the Puritan changed hands several times over the years. It was owned by the Michigan Transit Company in May 1924 and by R. Floyd Cinch of Chicago in May 1927. The vessel faced financial challenges during the Great Depression and was idle from 1931.
On May 22, 1933, the Puritan was acquired by the Isle Royale Transit Company. It was repaired, remodeled, and renamed George M. Cox. The ship started operating on the route from Chicago to Lake Superior. Unfortunately, on its first voyage under the new ownership, on May 27, 1933, the George M. Cox ran aground and stranded near Rock of Ages Lighthouse in Lake Michigan.
Efforts to salvage the vessel were unsuccessful, and over time, the weather and rocks caused the ship to break apart. Today, the wreckage of the George M. Cox rests in water depths ranging from 40 to 100 feet near Rock of Ages Reef. The remains of the machinery, equipment, propeller, and steel plates are visible on the seabed.
