CHESTER A. CONGDON U204526

Other Names

• SALT LAKE CITY

In the annals of maritime history, the name “Chester A. Congdon” evokes memories of a once-majestic bulk freighter that sailed the waters of Lake Superior. Constructed in 1907 as the Salt Lake City at the Chicago Ship Building Co. in South Chicago, Illinois, this vessel embarked on a journey that would ultimately lead to a tragic end on the treacherous waters of Lake Superior.

Originally owned by the Holmes Steamship Company of Cleveland, Ohio, the Salt Lake City was a formidable steel freighter, measuring 532 feet in length, with a 56-foot beam, and a draft of 26 feet. Powered by a powerful 1,765-horsepower triple expansion steam engine, it boasted two Scotch boilers, providing the necessary propulsion for its cargo-carrying endeavors.

In 1911, the ship found itself under the ownership of the Acme Transit Company of Ohio before being acquired by the Continental Steamship Company in early 1912. Renamed the Chester A. Congdon, it paid homage to Chester Adgate Congdon, a prominent lawyer and industrialist from Duluth, Minnesota.

Throughout its history, the Chester A. Congdon encountered a couple of minor mishaps, grounding on two occasions – once in 1912 and again in 1915. However, these incidents paled in comparison to the fateful day of November 6, 1918.

Departing from Thunder Bay, Ontario, carrying a valuable cargo of 380,000 bushels of wheat, the Chester A. Congdon faced dense fog that shrouded the waters near Canoe Rocks, located near Isle Royale. The treacherous conditions led the freighter to run aground on what would soon be renamed Congdon Shoal.

Recognizing the perilous situation, the captain dispatched a boat to seek assistance from Passage Island, while another boat was sent back to Thunder Bay for further aid. All crew members were rescued, but salvaging the precious cargo proved challenging, with only a meager 20% being salvaged.

As Lake Superior’s tempestuous nature raged on, a fierce storm on November 8 broke the freighter in two, plunging it into the unforgiving depths of the lake. Despite efforts to salvage the wreck later in 1918, little more was recovered from the tragic site.

The Chester A. Congdon’s fate marked a significant milestone in Great Lakes maritime history, as it became the first wreck on Lake Superior valued at over a million dollars. Additionally, it held the dubious record as the largest loss in both dollar value and net tonnage at the time.

Today, the wreckage of the Chester A. Congdon remains a haunting reminder of the ship’s tragic demise. Resting in depths ranging from 50 to 200 feet, the bow section of the vessel lies on the south side of the reef, while the stern is located on the north side. The stern section, in considerably deeper waters, presents a more challenging dive, attracting experienced divers seeking to explore the ship’s remains.

The bow section, however, offers a rare spectacle – it sits upright, and remarkably, the pilot house remains intact. This exceptional preservation provides divers with a poignant glimpse into the ship’s past and the lives of those who once sailed aboard this ill-fated vessel.

With each dive, the story of the Chester A. Congdon is kept alive, preserving the memory of its final voyage and honoring the brave souls who navigated the unpredictable waters of Lake Superior. As a testament to the trials and tribulations of Great Lakes shipping, the Chester A. Congdon’s legacy endures, forever etched into the history of Lake Superior’s shipwrecks.