Collingwood (1874)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: COLLINGWOOD
• Type: Steam Tug
• Year Built: 1874
• Builder: Melancthon Simpson, St. Catharines, Ontario
• Dimensions: Length 61 ft (18.6 m); Beam 15.4 ft (4.7 m); Depth 7.9 ft (2.4 m)
• Registered Tonnage: Gross Tonnage: 49.57 tons; Net Tonnage: 23.61 tons
• Location: Lake Huron, approximately 1/2 mile from Byng Inlet in Georgian Bay
• Original Owners: Alex Ritchie Christie, S.C. Kanaday & Co.
• Number of Masts: One mast

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Identification

• Name: COLLINGWOOD

• Type: Steam Tug

• Year Built: 1874

• Builder: Melancthon Simpson, St. Catharines, Ontario

Description

Dimensions:

• Length: 61 feet (18.6 meters)

• Beam (Width): 15.4 feet (4.7 meters)

• Depth: 7.9 feet (2.4 meters)

History

Primary Use and Service

• The COLLINGWOOD was primarily used as a lumber tug in Georgian Bay, where it towed lumber and other materials to various locations along the Great Lakes. Georgian Bay, with its rugged coastlines and heavy forest resources, was a major hub for the lumber industry in the 19th century, and the COLLINGWOOD played a critical role in transporting these goods.

Ownership Changes

• Initial Ownership: The COLLINGWOOD was initially owned by Alex Ritchie Christie of Toronto, Ontario.

• Subsequent Ownership: By the time of its destruction, the tug was owned by S.C. Kanaday & Co., a Toronto-based company that continued to operate the vessel in the lumber trade on the Great Lakes.

Significant Incidents

Incident and Final Loss

• Date of Incident: July 19, 1878

• Location: Lake Huron, approximately 1/2 mile from Byng Inlet in Georgian Bay

• Event: The COLLINGWOOD caught fire while in operation. The fire quickly spread, leading to a total loss of the vessel. Fortunately, all crew members on board managed to escape without injury.

Final Disposition

The loss of the COLLINGWOOD highlights the risks faced by steam-powered vessels of that era, particularly those working in remote areas like Georgian Bay where immediate assistance was difficult to access.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The COLLINGWOOD serves as a reminder of the early steam-powered tugboats that were essential to industries like lumber in the Great Lakes region. Steam tugs like the COLLINGWOOD were crucial for towing cargo and supporting the burgeoning timber trade that shaped much of the economy around Georgian Bay and Lake Huron during the late 19th century.

Resources & Links

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The fire that destroyed the COLLINGWOOD underscores the vulnerability of wooden steam-powered vessels to onboard fires, a frequent risk before modern firefighting systems became available. Despite its relatively short service life, the tug’s work in Georgian Bay contributed to the lumber trade and regional commerce during its active years.