IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION:
The NORTHERN BELLE was a propeller-driven steamer with a wooden hull and a single deck. Originally built as the GLADYS, the vessel was likely constructed using the hull of the J.S. ESTABROOK. The vessel’s primary function was to serve as a passenger and cargo ship operating on various routes in the Great Lakes region, particularly between Collingwood, Ontario, and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
HISTORY:
The GLADYS was launched in May 1875 in Marine City, Michigan, and enrolled at Port Huron, Michigan, on July 6, 1875. Initially, it was owned by Dan Cameron of Collingwood for the Georgian Bay Transit Co., later known as the Great Northern Transit Co. The vessel operated on the Collingwood to Sault Ste. Marie route alongside other ships like the SEYMOUR and SILVER SPRAY. On November 1, 1876, the vessel was renamed NORTHERN BELLE and came under the ownership of John & Thomas Long of Collingwood. The Georgian Bay Transportation Co. acquired it in 1877.
Over the following years, NORTHERN BELLE served various routes, including Meaford, Manitoulin Islands, and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. In November 1878, the vessel sustained damage while assisting the schooner MAPLE LEAF. It also suffered fire damage to the hurricane deck in October 1879 and replaced the WAUBUNO on the Meaford to Parry Sound route in March 1880. The Northern Transit Co. of Collingwood took ownership in 1882, and the vessel was rebuilt in Collingwood in the spring of 1886.
FINAL DISPOSITION:
On November 6, 1896, the NORTHERN BELLE caught fire and burned in Lake Huron near the Magnetawan River, close to Byng Inlet. The passengers were rescued and transported to Perry Sound by a tug. The vessel ultimately sank in shallow water, with the final depth estimated to be 15-20 inches. Despite the tragic loss, the remnants of the NORTHERN BELLE can still be observed today, resting in Lake Huron.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES:
There are currently no specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the NORTHERN BELLE wreck site. Divers and researchers are advised to check local advisories before visiting the site.
LOCATED BY & DATE:
The wreck of the NORTHERN BELLE has been marked on Canadian Hydrographic Chart 2203, sheet 3, and is located approximately three-quarters of a mile downstream of Wright’s Marina.
RESOURCES & LINKS:
- Bowling Green State University
- Great Lakes Ships
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Muskoka Region News
KEYWORDS:
NORTHERN BELLE, GLADYS, Great Northern Transit Co., Lake Huron, Magnetawan River, Byng Inlet, Georgian Bay Transportation Co., steamer, shipwreck.
CONCLUSION:
The NORTHERN BELLE, a vessel with a storied history on the Great Lakes, now rests beneath the waters of Lake Huron near Byng Inlet. The remnants of this once-active steamer serve as a historical marker for the maritime activity that once flourished in the region. As time passes, the connection to the vessel may fade, but the legacy of the NORTHERN BELLE continues to be remembered by those who explore and study the shipwreck.
