SIMON LANGELL US226091

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #

HISTORY

The SIMON LANGELL was a wooden steambarge built in 1886 at St. Clair, Michigan, by Simon Langell. Over its operational life, the vessel experienced multiple ownership changes and various incidents typical of Great Lakes shipping. Initially enrolled in Port Huron, Michigan, the SIMON LANGELL faced its first major incident in June 1886 when it ran aground on Lake George, just a few months after its launch. Despite this early mishap, the vessel quickly became integral to the region’s maritime commerce, operating in the iron ore trade and towing other vessels, including the SWEETHEART and F.M. KNAPP, to and from Two Harbors.

The steambarge underwent significant upgrades and repairs throughout its service. In 1891, it received a new boiler, and two years later, in 1893, the SIMON LANGELL was involved in a collision with an unknown steamer off Presque Isle, Lake Huron. This collision temporarily disabled the ship’s machinery, causing it to stop for an hour. In 1898, the vessel stranded on Goose Island but was successfully released after several days. The following year, the SIMON LANGELL was fitted with a new steam firebox boiler, this time manufactured by William Denny & Brothers in Scotland.

By 1900, the SIMON LANGELL had undergone a significant rigging change, reducing its original three masts to two, likely to better suit its evolving role in the Great Lakes trade. One of the most notable incidents in the vessel’s history occurred on October 17, 1905, when it ran aground in the Tonawanda River while carrying a substantial cargo of 900,000 feet of lumber for the Meyers London Company. The vessel had to be partially unloaded (lightered) before it could be freed. The following year, the SIMON LANGELL sustained damage in a collision with the barge CHATTANOOGA in the Soo Passage, necessitating repairs to its bow and bulwarks in Detroit.

Ownership of the SIMON LANGELL changed hands several times, reflecting the vessel’s continued utility despite its age. In 1913, it was owned by Sinclair Transportation Co. of Duluth, Minnesota, before being sold to the Argo Steamship Co. in 1916, and later to Robert S. Misner and others in Sarnia, Ontario, in 1919. By 1923, the vessel was under the ownership of Langell Transportation Co., also based in Sarnia. After decades of service, the SIMON LANGELL was finally laid up in Portsmouth, Ontario, in 1930.

The vessel’s long career came to a definitive end as part of the Portsmouth Harbour Cleanup in the 1930s. After being stripped of valuable materials, the hull of the SIMON LANGELL was set on fire and scuttled in Lake Ontario, at the Wolfe Island Graveyard. This final act was part of a broader effort to clear Portsmouth Harbour of obsolete vessels, ensuring safer and more navigable waters for future maritime activity.

NOTABLE INCIDENTS

• 1905: On October 17, the SIMON LANGELL ran aground in the Tonawanda River while carrying a significant lumber cargo. The vessel required lightering to refloat.
• 1893: Collision with an unknown steamer off Presque Isle, Lake Huron.
• 1898: Stranded on Goose Island and later released.

• Divehub.ca Dive Site Information: Provides details for divers exploring the Wolfe Island Graveyard, including the wreck of the SIMON LANGELL.
• Historical Collections of the Great Lakes (HCGL): Offers historical data and ship histories, including the SIMON LANGELL.
• Queens University Video Tape Holdings POW Photo Project 1998: Archival footage and photographs documenting wrecks in Lake Ontario, including the SIMON LANGELL.
• Vlada Dekina Photogallery 2002: Photographs of shipwrecks in the Lake Ontario region, potentially featuring the SIMON LANGELL.

CONCLUSION

The SIMON LANGELL served the Great Lakes for over five decades, enduring the challenges of maritime transportation during an era of wooden ships and steam power. Its operational history is marked by several incidents and repairs, reflecting the often perilous nature of shipping on the Great Lakes. The vessel was ultimately laid up and stripped before being deliberately burned and scuttled in Lake Huron, ending its long service life.