Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Duluth
- Type: Wooden screw-driven ferry
- Year Built: 1890
- Builder: Cleveland Dry Dock Co., Cleveland, OH
- Dimensions: Length 98 ft (29.9 m); Beam 29 ft 9 in; Depth 10 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 247 GRT; 163 NRT
- Location: Mid-Lake Huron between Port Huron, MI, and Kincardine, ON
- Official Number: US 157279
- Original Owners: Duluth & Superior Ferry Co., Port Huron & Sarnia Ferry Co.
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type
Wooden screw-driven ferry, designed for both passenger and vehicle transport.
Description
Description
The Duluth was a two-deck wooden ferry built in 1890, featuring a compound steam engine and capable of carrying both passengers and vehicles across the Great Lakes.
History
History
Initially enrolled as Duluth, the vessel operated ferry services on Lake Superior before being renamed City of Cheboygan in 1909 and later City of Port Huron in 1924. It played a significant role in cross-river travel prior to the construction of the Blue Water Bridge.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- Oct 9, 1890: Collided with a sand scow at St. Paul, MN.
- Nov 1890: Damaged after collision with Superior.
- April 16, 1895: Ownership transfer to Euclid Beach Park Co. of Cleveland.
- May 1905: Sold to Island Transportation Co.; operated in Cheboygan–Mackinaw areas.
- 1908: Underwent significant rebuilding.
- 1923: Final ownership by Port Huron & Sarnia Ferry Co., renamed City of Port Huron.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
- April 8, 1939: Sank at her dock in Port Huron, likely due to dock or structural failure.
- Post-sinking: Raised and sold in 1940 to interests in Kincardine, Ontario; repurposed as a lumber carrier.
- January 1940: While being towed across Lake Huron, she was scuttled by her new owners.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is believed to rest upright on the lakebed in moderate depth, though no surveys have confirmed its exact position. The archaeological potential is moderate, with the possibility of well-preserved hull elements in freshwater conditions.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”duluthcity-of-cheboygancity-of-port-huronus-157279″ title=”References & Links”]
Summary
The Duluth, rechristened City of Cheboygan and later City of Port Huron, served as a multi-purpose ferry across Lake Superior and Huron from 1890 until its scuttling in 1940. Its uncharted wreck site presents opportunities for historical research and underwater archaeological exploration.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Identification & Construction
- Built: 1890, Cleveland Dry Dock Co., Cleveland, OH
- Type: Wooden screw-driven ferry, two-deck configuration
- Propulsion: Compound steam engine; twin cylinders (20″ & 38″ × 24″), built by Cleveland Ship Building Co., producing ~425 hp @ ~115 rpm; powered by a single 9′6″ × 15′ boiler at 120 psi
- Dimensions: Length 98′; Beam 29′9″; Depth 10′
- Tonnage: 247 GRT; 163 NRT
Ownership & Operational History
- 1890: Enrolled as Duluth, operated by Duluth & Superior Ferry Co. for Lake Superior crossings
- Served in excursion and ferry operations between Duluth and Superior, WI
- Later Years: Transferred across operators; eventually entered service out of Port Huron, Michigan
- 1909: Renamed City of Cheboygan, running routes in northern Michigan (Straits vicinity)
- 1924: Re-registered as City of Port Huron, owned by Port Huron & Sarnia Ferry Co., running car/passenger routes between Port Huron and Sarnia (Wikipedia, Wikipedia, Sarnia Historical Society)
Key Incidents & Rebuilds
- Oct 9, 1890: Collided with a sand scow at St. Paul, MN
- Nov 1890: Damaged after collision with Superior
- April 16, 1895: Ownership transfer to Euclid Beach Park Co. of Cleveland
- May 1905: Sold to Island Transportation Co.; operated in Cheboygan–Mackinaw areas
- 1908: Underwent significant rebuilding
- 1923: Final ownership by Port Huron & Sarnia Ferry Co., renamed City of Port Huron
Final Disposition
- April 8, 1939: Sank at her dock in Port Huron (likely due to sinking of dock or structural failure) (eBay, Sarnia Historical Society)
- Post-sinking: Raised, sold in 1940 to interests in Kincardine, Ontario; repurposed as a lumber carrier
- January 1940: While being towed across Lake Huron, she was scuttled by her new owners (documents dated Jan 11, 1940, officially canceled registry)
Wreck Location & Site Condition
- Probable Sinking Area: Mid-Lake Huron between Port Huron, MI, and Kincardine, ON
- Wreck Status: Scuttled under tow; likely rests upright on lakebed in moderate depth, though no surveys or seabed mapping confirm exact position
- Archaeological Potential: Moderate—deep enough for potential ROV surveys; hull elements may remain well-preserved in freshwater conditions
Historical Significance
- An example of early Great Lakes auto/passenger ferries evolving from excursion and light freight service
- Provided vital car and passenger connection prior to Blue Water Bridge (opened 1938), highlighting pre-bridge cross-river travel dynamics (Wikipedia, pmhistsoc.org, Sarnia Historical Society)
- Reflects lifecycle of Great Lakes wooden ferries: multiple renamings, roles, dock sinkings, registry transfers, and final scuttling
Research & Exploration Opportunities
| Focus Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Archival Research | Locate shipyard records or Coast Guard files on 1939 sinking and 1940 towing/scuttling documents |
| Port Huron docks | Investigate local maritime archives for dock design changes or sinking cause |
| Wreck Survey | Commission a side-scan sonar sweep in central Lake Huron on towing corridor between Port Huron and Kincardine |
| Heritage Engagement | Reach out to Port Huron & Sarnia Ferry Company and Blue Water Bridge Authority for historical narrative contributions |
Summary
The DULUTH, rechristened City of Cheboygan and later City of Port Huron, served as a multi-purpose ferry across Lake Superior and Huron between 1890 and 1940. After sinking at her dock in April 1939, she was raised and sold to Canadian interests intending to use her as a lumber carrier. While being towed in early 1940, she was intentionally scuttled. With her wreck site uncharted, she offers an intriguing subject for historical research and underwater archaeological exploration.
duluthcity-of-cheboygancity-of-port-huronus-157279 1940-01-11 15:49:00