Site Description #
- Schooner
- 25ffw 8m
- 166ftn
- Kenny Shoal, North Channel, Lake Huron
- N46 05.067 W082 12.208
History #
The Thomas H. Cahoon was a schooner-barge that was built in 1881 in E. Saginaw, Michigan. It was constructed by T. Arnold and originally owned by L.P. Mason & Co., also located in E. Saginaw. The vessel was primarily used for transporting lumber and had a capacity of 600,000 board feet.
The Thomas H. Cahoon had a length of 166 feet, a beam of 31 feet, and a depth of 10 feet. It had a gross tonnage of 437 and a net tonnage of 410. The ship had one deck and was powered by three masts.
Throughout its history, the Thomas H. Cahoon underwent several changes in ownership and was towed by various vessels. In 1884-88, it was towed by the Porter Chamberlain, followed by the Oscoda in 1889, and the Alpena & Leland in 1890. In 1891, ownership of the vessel transferred to M. Madden of Bay City, Michigan.
The Thomas H. Cahoon experienced several incidents during its years of service. In 1892, it lost a deck cargo of 2,000 board feet of lumber in a gale off Sauble Point, Lake Michigan. In 1898, the ship was involved in a collision with a whaleback barge #137, resulting in it sinking in Lake St. Clair while carrying a cargo of coal.
Over the years, the Thomas H. Cahoon continued to be towed by different vessels, including the Leland in 1898, the E.A. Shores Jr. in 1901, and the Homer Warren in 1903. In 1913, ownership of the vessel transferred to the Midland Transportation Co., Ltd., a Canadian company.
Unfortunately, on October 11, 1913, the Thomas H. Cahoon was wrecked on Kenney Shoal near Innes Island in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. The ship broke up in heavy seas, and its final cargo of 800,000 board feet of lumber was lost. The wreck was discovered in 1975.
