IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
DETAILED HISTORY OF THE LAURA GRACE #
The LAURA GRACE was a wooden tugboat constructed in 1901 by Robert J. Morrill in Collingwood, Ontario. This robust vessel was part of the booming maritime industry on the Great Lakes, initially serving the needs of the Lake Superior Tug Co. in Port Arthur, Ontario. Its construction and design were typical of the era, featuring a screw propulsion system and a steeple compound engine repurposed from the older tug MARY ANN. This engine, built by the Doty Engine Works in Goderich, Ontario, in 1890, along with a Scotch boiler from the same period, highlighted the resourceful practices of the time.
Service and Operations #
The LAURA GRACE played a significant role in the maritime activities of Lake Superior and later Lake Ontario. Originally built for the Pigeon River Lumber Co., it was soon sold to James Whalen’s Lake Superior Tug Co., a testament to its value and utility in the rugged waters of the Great Lakes. The tug was actively involved in various operations, including salvage missions. One notable event was in December 1910 when the LAURA GRACE participated in the salvage of the steel steamer DUNELM in Port Arthur, showcasing its importance in regional maritime activities.
Ownership Changes and Final Years #
By 1918, the LAURA GRACE had changed ownership, being acquired by the Montreal Transportation Co. for $24,500. This company, based in Port Arthur, saw the tug as a valuable asset for their operations. However, the vessel’s service with the Montreal Transportation Co. was short-lived. On December 6, 1918, while navigating Lake Ontario near Rochester, New York, the LAURA GRACE ran aground near Grandview Beach, close to Charlotte (Rochester), New York.
The incident marked the end of the LAURA GRACE‘s operational life. Although all nine crew members and a woman aboard were rescued, the tug itself was abandoned after the grounding. The final location of the wreck was identified as the Long Pond Outlet in Greece, New York, with a reported depth of just 15 inches, indicating that the tug had run aground in very shallow waters.
Legacy and Historical Significance #
The LAURA GRACE is a significant example of early 20th-century tugboat design and operation on the Great Lakes. Its service life, marked by various ownership changes and participation in notable salvage operations, reflects the dynamic and often perilous nature of maritime activities on these inland seas.
The abandonment of the LAURA GRACE after its grounding and its subsequent omission from shipping registers suggests that the vessel was considered a total loss. The wreck, located in shallow waters at the Long Pond Outlet, remains a part of the rich maritime history of Lake Ontario, serving as a reminder of the many vessels that met their end in these unpredictable waters.
Video: James Montanus
References & Links #
- Montreal Transportation Co. Annual Directors’ Reports (1919-1920)
- Montreal Transportation Co. Cash Book for the LAURA GRACE (May-December 1918)
- Montreal Transportation Co. Directors’ Minutes (May 14, 1918)
- Montreal Transportation Co. Engineer’s Log for the India (April 25 – June 1, 1918)
- Montreal Transportation Co. Ship’s Log for the Mary P. Hall
- Bascom and Gillham, “Early Ships of Canada Steamship Lines”
- Bowling Green Great Lakes Vessels Online Index
- Bureau Veritas Great Lakes Register 1919
- Canada List of Shipping (1910, 1912, 1915)
- Canadian Heritage Ship Information Database
- Green’s Marine Directory of the Great Lakes 1920
- Marine Museum of the Great Lakes Canadian Ship Registers Online
- New Mills List
- Detroit Marine Historian (September 1952)
- Scanner (February 1979)
IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
DETAILED HISTORY OF THE LAURA GRACE #
The LAURA GRACE was a wooden tugboat constructed in 1901 by Robert J. Morrill in Collingwood, Ontario. This robust vessel was part of the booming maritime industry on the Great Lakes, initially serving the needs of the Lake Superior Tug Co. in Port Arthur, Ontario. Its construction and design were typical of the era, featuring a screw propulsion system and a steeple compound engine repurposed from the older tug MARY ANN. This engine, built by the Doty Engine Works in Goderich, Ontario, in 1890, along with a Scotch boiler from the same period, highlighted the resourceful practices of the time.
Service and Operations #
The LAURA GRACE played a significant role in the maritime activities of Lake Superior and later Lake Ontario. Originally built for the Pigeon River Lumber Co., it was soon sold to James Whalen’s Lake Superior Tug Co., a testament to its value and utility in the rugged waters of the Great Lakes. The tug was actively involved in various operations, including salvage missions. One notable event was in December 1910 when the LAURA GRACE participated in the salvage of the steel steamer DUNELM in Port Arthur, showcasing its importance in regional maritime activities.
Ownership Changes and Final Years #
By 1918, the LAURA GRACE had changed ownership, being acquired by the Montreal Transportation Co. for $24,500. This company, based in Port Arthur, saw the tug as a valuable asset for their operations. However, the vessel’s service with the Montreal Transportation Co. was short-lived. On December 6, 1918, while navigating Lake Ontario near Rochester, New York, the LAURA GRACE ran aground near Grandview Beach, close to Charlotte (Rochester), New York.
The incident marked the end of the LAURA GRACE‘s operational life. Although all nine crew members and a woman aboard were rescued, the tug itself was abandoned after the grounding. The final location of the wreck was identified as the Long Pond Outlet in Greece, New York, with a reported depth of just 15 inches, indicating that the tug had run aground in very shallow waters.
Legacy and Historical Significance #
The LAURA GRACE is a significant example of early 20th-century tugboat design and operation on the Great Lakes. Its service life, marked by various ownership changes and participation in notable salvage operations, reflects the dynamic and often perilous nature of maritime activities on these inland seas.
The abandonment of the LAURA GRACE after its grounding and its subsequent omission from shipping registers suggests that the vessel was considered a total loss. The wreck, located in shallow waters at the Long Pond Outlet, remains a part of the rich maritime history of Lake Ontario, serving as a reminder of the many vessels that met their end in these unpredictable waters.
Video: James Montanus
References & Links #
- Montreal Transportation Co. Annual Directors’ Reports (1919-1920)
- Montreal Transportation Co. Cash Book for the LAURA GRACE (May-December 1918)
- Montreal Transportation Co. Directors’ Minutes (May 14, 1918)
- Montreal Transportation Co. Engineer’s Log for the India (April 25 – June 1, 1918)
- Montreal Transportation Co. Ship’s Log for the Mary P. Hall
- Bascom and Gillham, “Early Ships of Canada Steamship Lines”
- Bowling Green Great Lakes Vessels Online Index
- Bureau Veritas Great Lakes Register 1919
- Canada List of Shipping (1910, 1912, 1915)
- Canadian Heritage Ship Information Database
- Green’s Marine Directory of the Great Lakes 1920
- Marine Museum of the Great Lakes Canadian Ship Registers Online
- New Mills List
- Detroit Marine Historian (September 1952)
- Scanner (February 1979)
You must be logged in to post a comment.