Chas. Reed – Lake Erie Tug Shipwreck (1922)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Chas. Reed
• Type: Wood-hulled steamer/tug (exact classification not fully confirmed)
• Year Built: 1908
• Builder:
• Dimensions: Details not available from current records
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Lake Erie

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Chas. Reed appears to have been a small harbour or coastal steamer—possibly a tug or light service vessel—common on Lake Erie in the early 20th century.

Description

Specific details regarding her propulsion, engine, and deck layout are absent. Likely powered by steam, with a wooden hull typical of 1900s construction—nominally tasked for towing, supply, or light transport in Erie’s bay or harbour areas.

History

• 1908: Vessel built (location unspecified), entered service on Lake Erie
• 16 March 1922: Fire completely consumed the vessel; no survivors or vessel specifics documented

Significant Incidents

• 16 March 1922: Fire completely consumed the vessel; no survivors or vessel specifics documented.

Final Disposition

Chas. Reed burned to a complete loss on 16 March 1922. Her registry was closed following the incident. No salvage, recovery, or public reports of wreckage beyond the burning are available.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No record of wreck discovery, mapping, or diving expeditions. The remains were either entirely consumed by fire and debris lost, or removed and scrapped without formal documentation.

Resources & Links

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The Chas. Reed, lost to fire in 1922 on Lake Erie, represents one of many undocumented or lightly recorded service vessels of the early 20th century. Despite minimal surviving data, the event underscores the persistent danger of onboard fires in steam-powered wooden craft of that era. With no known wreckage, her legacy remains confined to registry logs and ship loss rosters.