Other Names
- WILLIAM B. CASTLE 26860
History
The W.B. Castle, also known as William B. Castle, was a propeller steam tug built in 1862 by Peck & Masters in Cleveland, Ohio. It had the official number 26860. The tug had a wooden hull and measured approximately 115 feet in length, 21 feet in beam, and 11 feet in depth. It had a gross tonnage of 173 tons and a net tonnage of 111 tons.
On July 24, 1906, the W.B. Castle was involved in a collision with the steamer Robert Holland on the Detroit River above Belle Isle, opposite the Peche Island buoy. As a result of the collision, the tug sank. Fortunately, there was no loss of life among the eight crew members on board. The W.B. Castle was not carrying any cargo at the time of the incident.
After sinking, the wreckage of the W.B. Castle was struck by several vessels, which further destroyed what remained of the tug. However, its machinery was salvaged.
The W.B. Castle had experienced previous incidents, including sliding completely out of the water on a clay riverbank in November 1904, due to a broken steering gear. In November 1898, it was also wrecked by fire in Duluth.
The tug underwent various ownership changes throughout its history. It was initially owned by A. Harmon and others in Cleveland, Ohio. Over the years, it changed hands and was owned by different individuals and companies, including R.J. Hackett, Eagle Transit Co., Philo E. Wright, A.N. Moffatt, Mary R. Inman, and Henry Howard, among others. Its home ports included Cleveland, Detroit, Port Huron, and St. Clair, Michigan.
The W.B. Castle underwent several rebuilds and modifications throughout its lifespan. It was rebuilt and double-decked in Detroit in 1871, and its dimensions were altered. It was also modernized in 1868 and had various engine and machinery upgrades over the years.
In its final years, the W.B. Castle was owned by William Schaefer of St. Clair, Michigan. It collided with the Robert Holland, resulting in its sinking in 1906.
