The Magnolia, a tug (towboat) with a rich history, was built in 1898 at Midland, Ontario. It was also known by the name Luckport. The vessel had a wooden hull and two decks, with dimensions of 136 feet in length, 21.4 feet in beam, and 13.7 feet in depth. Its gross tonnage was recorded at 367 tons, with a net tonnage of 191 tons. The original owner of the Magnolia was the Midland Towing & Wrecking Co. based in Midland, Ontario.
The tug was powered by a steeple compound engine with two cylinders, measuring 20″ and 36″ in diameter, and a 30″ stroke. The engine was manufactured by Beckwith Engine Co. in Hamilton, Ontario. It had a single propeller and was propelled by a scotch boiler, measuring 11′ x 10′ and operating at 100 pounds per square inch (psi).
Throughout its existence, the Magnolia underwent several changes in ownership and name. In 1919, it was rebuilt and renamed Luckport. It was then acquired by Canada Steamship Lines in 1920. However, by 1930, the tug was abandoned and no longer in active service. Its final fate came in December 1934 when it was dismantled and burned in Midland, Ontario, located in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron.
The wreck of the Magnolia can still be found off the shore from Kettle’s Beach, near Sawlog Point. Although little remains of the vessel, its bottom timbers can still be seen in shallow water. Access to the wreck is possible from the public beach at Tomahawk Crescent, with a swim of approximately 10 minutes due north. The visibility in the area is generally good, with depths making it slightly more susceptible to wind and waves compared to other locations like Tobermory. Despite its dismantling and burning, the Magnolia’s legacy lives on through the remnants of its structure resting on the lakebed.
