IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
- Wreck Location: Off Rotary Beach, Town of Goderich, Ontario, Lake Huron
- Coordinates: Specific coordinates for each wreck are not provided
- Vessels Involved:
- Phillips
- Abercorn
- Scobia
- Olga
- Tecumseth
- Other unidentified vessels
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
These wrecks off Rotary Beach include a variety of vessel types, predominantly schooners and steamers, typical of those used during the 19th and early 20th centuries on the Great Lakes. These vessels were primarily engaged in the transport of goods, such as lumber, coal, and grain, vital to the regional economy. The mix of ship types reflects the varied maritime activities that Goderich, a significant port on Lake Huron, supported during its peak.
HISTORY #
Goderich, Ontario, has a rich maritime history, serving as a critical port on Lake Huron for much of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The vessels wrecked off Rotary Beach were all part of this bustling maritime trade, contributing to the local economy by transporting a wide range of goods.
- Phillips (Best Candidate):
- Vessel Type: Schooner
- Year of Build: Pre-1831
- Final Location: Off Rotary Beach, Goderich, Ontario, Lake Huron
- Coordinates: Not specified
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The PHILLIPS was a wooden-hulled schooner, a common type of vessel on the Great Lakes during the early 19th century. Schooners like the PHILLIPS were integral to the maritime economy of the region, used primarily for transporting goods such as timber, grain, and other commodities. With a single deck and an old-style tonnage of 40 tons, the PHILLIPS would have been a relatively small but essential part of the coastal trade network that linked various ports along Lake Huron and other Great Lakes.
HISTORY #
The PHILLIPS was enrolled in Buffalo, New York, between 1831 and 1834, marking it as an early participant in the bustling trade activities on the Great Lakes. Buffalo, a key port city during this period, was a hub for vessels like the PHILLIPS that carried goods across the lakes and connected with the Erie Canal, facilitating the flow of commodities between the interior of the United States and international markets via the Atlantic Ocean.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The PHILLIPS met its end off the coast of Rotary Beach in Goderich, Ontario, where it now lies as one of the several shipwrecks in the area. The exact circumstances of its sinking are not well-documented, but it likely fell victim to the hazards common to Great Lakes shipping, such as storms, navigational errors, or aging infrastructure.
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Link
- Great Lakes Ships Database: Link
- David Swayze Shipwreck File: Link
- Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library: Holds the collection of C. Patrick Labadie, which includes historical records on the PHILLIPS.
- Local Historical Societies: Information on the history of Goderich and its maritime heritage
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Link
- Great Lakes Ships Database: Link
- David Swayze Shipwreck File: Link
- Dossin Great Lakes Museum: Information on Great Lakes vessels and shipwrecks.
- Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley: Provides historical context for vessels like the Abercorn during the steamboat era.Abercorn:
- Year of Build: 1874
- Official Number: 105361
- Final Location: Goderich, Ontario, Lake Huron
- Date of Final Disposition: September 5, 1904
- How: Burned at dock
- Coordinates: Not specified
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The Abercorn was a wooden-hulled steambarge, a type of vessel designed for transporting bulk goods across the Great Lakes. Steambarges like the Abercorn were crucial to the economic growth of the Great Lakes region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, providing a reliable means of moving large quantities of materials such as coal, timber, and grain. With a screw propulsion system and a single high-pressure engine, the Abercorn was equipped to navigate the often treacherous waters of the Great Lakes.
HISTORY #
The Abercorn was built in 1874 by John J. Hill at Marine City, Michigan, for the Leitch family and their associates. Measuring 126.1 feet in length, with a beam of 26.1 feet and a depth of 11 feet, the vessel had a gross tonnage of 260 and a net tonnage of 190. It was powered by a 300-horsepower engine from Dry Dock Engine Works in Detroit, which drove a single propeller.
The vessel’s early years were marked by a series of incidents and ownership changes, reflecting the often perilous conditions faced by ships on the Great Lakes. In September 1874, shortly after its launch, the Abercorn ran ashore near Port Colborne, Ontario, on Lake Erie and had to be lightered. The following year, its upper works were damaged by fire at Marine City, but the vessel was repaired and returned to service.
Throughout its operational life, the Abercorn faced several mishaps, including groundings, collisions, and even sinking. Notable incidents include going aground on Spectacle Reef, Michigan, in October 1883, and sinking after a collision with the propeller Cuba near Marine City in 1889. Despite these challenges, the Abercorn continued to serve various owners, including members of the Leitch family and later W.J. Willoughby of Cleveland.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
On September 5, 1904, the Abercorn met its final fate when it caught fire at the dock in Goderich, Ontario, on Lake Huron. The fire was reportedly caused by an explosion of a signal lamp, which quickly engulfed the vessel in flames. Despite efforts to save the ship, it was ultimately destroyed. The hulk of the Abercorn was sold to Canadian interests in 1905, marking the end of its service on the Great Lakes.
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The Abercorn steambarge, with its long service history and multiple incidents, exemplifies the challenges and hazards of Great Lakes navigation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Despite its numerous repairs and modifications, the vessel ultimately succumbed to a fire at Goderich, ending its operational life. Today, the wreck of the Abercorn remains a point of historical interest, reflecting the broader story of maritime commerce and industry on the Great Lakes.
Abercorn steambarge, Great Lakes shipwrecks, Lake Huron maritime history, 19th-century shipwrecks, Great Lakes steamboats, Goderich shipwrecks, Leitch family maritime history, John J. Hill shipbuilder
- Scobia: Details of this wreck are less known, but it is believed to have been involved in the coal or grain trade.
- Olga:
- Year of Build: 1881
- Official Number: 155029
- Final Location: Above Goderich, Ontario, Lake Huron
- Date of Incident: December 2, 1905
- Cause: Drifted ashore and broke up after a storm
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The OLGA was a wooden-hulled schooner, a type of sailing vessel commonly used in the 19th and early 20th centuries for transporting cargo across the Great Lakes. Schooners like the OLGA typically featured one or more masts rigged with fore-and-aft sails, which made them highly maneuverable and well-suited for the variable wind conditions on the lakes. The OLGA was the sister ship to the ALICE, both constructed in 1881 by Rand & Burger in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. With a length of 137 feet, a beam of 30.4 feet, and a depth of 10 feet, the OLGA had a gross tonnage of 308 tons and a net tonnage of 292 tons, capable of carrying 300 tons of cargo.
HISTORY #
The OLGA was launched in May 1881, originally owned by Captain William Johnson of Chicago. Over its operational life, the schooner was involved in several notable incidents. By 1900, the vessel was owned by Hook & W.H. Turner of Beaumont, Texas, and had been transported to the Gulf of Mexico via the St. Lawrence River—a significant journey for a Great Lakes schooner.
In the early 1900s, the OLGA encountered a series of unfortunate events. On May 25, 1905, it collided with and was sunk by the steamers SAUNDERS and CLARION in the St. Clair River near Sarnia, Ontario. The vessel was refloated and repaired, only to strand again on October 21, 1905, at Pictured Rocks in Lake Superior. These incidents foreshadowed the schooner’s final voyage later that year.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
On November 26, 1905, the OLGA was being towed by the steamer F.A. MEYERS when it broke loose during a storm. The crew was rescued by the steamer MAUNALOA, but the OLGA was left adrift. Over the next several days, the schooner drifted until it eventually came ashore near Goderich, Ontario, on Lake Huron. On December 2, 1905, the vessel broke apart due to the pounding waves and rough conditions, marking the end of the OLGA.
- Olga:
- Tecumseth: A vessel with a historical connection to the region, possibly named after the famous Indigenous leader, suggesting its use in significant trading activities.
- Other Vessels: The area off Rotary Beach is known for several wrecks, with some vessels remaining unidentified. These wrecks represent the numerous ships that served the port of Goderich and the broader Great Lakes trade network.
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FINAL DISPOSITION #
Each of these vessels met their end near Goderich, succumbing to various factors such as storms, navigational errors, or mechanical failures. The specifics of each wreck’s final moments are not well-documented, but they now rest off Rotary Beach, contributing to the area’s rich underwater archaeological heritage.
LOCATED BY & DATE #
- Located by: Various divers and historians over time; specific discoverers and dates not fully documented
- Date of Discovery: Ongoing discoveries, with some wrecks identified in the early 20th century and others more recently
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #
- No specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) currently issued for these wreck sites. However, local advisories may exist for divers, particularly regarding visibility and hazards due to boat traffic.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Link
- Great Lakes Ships Database: Link
- David Swayze Shipwreck File: Link
- Local Historical Societies: Information on the history of Goderich and its maritime heritage
CONCLUSION #
The wrecks located off Rotary Beach in Goderich, Ontario, are a testament to the town’s significant role in the maritime history of Lake Huron. These vessels, once vital to the regional economy, now rest on the lakebed, offering a glimpse into the past for divers and historians alike. The diverse types of ships and their varied cargoes reflect the bustling trade that once defined Goderich’s waterfront.
KEYWORDS #
Goderich shipwrecks, Lake Huron maritime history, Phillips wreck, Abercorn wreck, Scobia wreck, Olga wreck, Tecumseth wreck, Ontario shipwrecks, Great Lakes diving sites, 19th-century shipwrecks,
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Abercorn steambarge, Great Lakes shipwrecks, Lake Huron maritime history, 19th-century shipwrecks, Great Lakes steamboats, Goderich shipwrecks, Leitch family maritime history, John J. Hill shipbuilder
