Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: Thomas H. Cahoon
• Former Names: None documented
• Official Number: Not confirmed in existing records
• Year Built: 1881
• Builder: T. Arnold, East Saginaw, Michigan
• Dimensions:
  • Length: 166 feet (50.6 metres)
  • Beam: 31 feet (9.4 metres)
  • Depth: 10 feet (3 metres)
• Gross Tonnage: 437 tons
• Net Tonnage: 410 tons
• Final Location: Kenney Shoal, North Channel, Lake Huron
• Coordinates: 46° 05.067’ N, 082° 12.208’ W
• Depth of Wreck: Approximately 25 feet (8 metres)

Vessel Type

Wooden Schooner-Barge

Schooner-barges were a common sight on the Great Lakes during the height of the lumber trade. These vessels were built with the capacity to carry vast amounts of bulk cargo — particularly timber and lumber — while being towed by steamers to increase efficiency. The Thomas H. Cahoon had three masts and a single Deck, optimized to haul as much as 800,000 board feet of lumber during peak voyages.

Description

Built in 1881 by T. Arnold in East Saginaw, Michigan, the Thomas H. Cahoon served as a critical workhorse in the bustling lumber trade that shaped much of the industrial growth around the Great Lakes. Originally owned by L.P. Mason & Co., she carried raw timber from logging camps along the shores of Michigan, Ontario, and beyond to processing centres along the lakes.

Over her 32-year career, the Cahoon endured numerous incidents that highlight the inherent dangers of early Great Lakes shipping.

• In 1892, she lost a Deck load of 2,000 board feet of lumber off Sauble Point, Lake Michigan.
• In 1898, she collided with Whaleback Barge #137 in Lake St. Clair, sending the smaller vessel to the bottom. Though damaged, the Cahoon was salvaged and returned to service.
• Ownership changed several times, and in 1913, she was sold to Midland Transportation Co., Ltd., a Canadian company based in Ontario. This marked the Cahoon’s transition into Canadian service just before her final voyage.

Final Disposition

The Thomas H. Cahoon met her fate on October 11, 1913 while navigating Georgian Bay, loaded to capacity with 800,000 board feet of lumber. Caught in a powerful autumn gale, the Schooner-Barge was driven onto Kenney Shoal, just off Innes Island in the North Channel of Lake Huron. The severe seas broke the Hull apart, scattering her valuable cargo across the rocky bottom.

Declared a Total Loss, the Cahoon became one of the many casualties of 1913, a year infamous for destructive Great Lakes storms.

Located By & Date Found

• Located: 1975
• Discovered By: Underwater survey teams studying Kenney Shoal in the North Channel

Current Condition

Lying in shallow water at approximately 25 feet (8 metres), the Thomas H. Cahoon is heavily broken up, though many recognizable features remain. Sections of her Hull, frames, and Deck beams are visible, along with piles of decayed lumber, a poignant reminder of her final cargo.

Due to her shallow location, the site is subject to ice scour and seasonal shifting, meaning her remains change over time. Despite this, the Cahoon remains a popular and historically significant dive site.

Diving Notes

• Depth: 25 feet (8 metres)
• Water Type: Freshwater
• Visibility: Often good, but can drop after storms (average 5 to 10 metres, or 16 to 33 feet)
• Conditions: Generally mild, but current from the North Channel can occasionally be present
• Recommended Certification: Open Water Diver, with basic wreck awareness training recommended
• Hazards: Shallow depth makes boat traffic a potential concern — a dive flag is strongly recommended.

NOTMARs & Advisories

There are currently no active NOTMARs related specifically to the Thomas H. Cahoon. The site is well-documented and often visited by local dive charters. Its shallow location makes it both accessible and vulnerable to environmental impacts.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• Save Ontario Shipwrecks – North Channel

Conclusion

The wreck of the Thomas H. Cahoon serves as a powerful relic from the era when the Great Lakes were the beating heart of the lumber industry. Her loss, while tragic, preserved a remarkable underwater classroom where divers can literally swim through history. From the wreck itself to the cargo she once carried, the Cahoon offers a rare, tangible connection to the resource economy that helped shape the Great Lakes region.

As both a dive site and a cultural artifact, the Thomas H. Cahoon stands as a testament to the hardships faced by early mariners, and to the economic lifeblood that once flowed through the timber-rich North Channel.

Keywords & Categories

Thomas H. Cahoon, Schooner-Barge, Great Lakes Shipwreck, Kenney Shoal, Lake Huron Wreck, North Channel, Lumber Trade, Canadian Maritime History, Great Lakes Storms, Historical Diving Sites, Shallow Wreck Diving, Open Water Dive Sites