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.

Frank Reid (also spelled Frank Reed)
Official No.: C92281
Type & Build: Propeller-driven wooden steam fishing tug, built in 1886 by A. Morrell at Meaford, Ontario (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Dimensions: 60 ft L × 12 ft beam × 6 ft depth; 34 gross tons, 23 net tons (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Year of loss: 1899 (October 18th)
• Location: Near Barrie Island in the North Channel of Lake Huron (Ontario waters)
• Cause: Lost during a storm; exact circumstances unspecified (“wrecked, no detail”) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Vessel Type

A small steam-powered fishing tug (propeller steam fish tug).

Description

Constructed of wood, equipped with a single screw propeller and steam engine. Designed primarily for fishing and light towing work on the Great Lakes.

History

• Registered out of Owen Sound, Ontario.
• No detailed records of vessel’s service, ownership transitions, or crew manifest found in standard databases.
• Missing human toll; records do not indicate fatalities.

Final Disposition

• Lost during a late-season storm in the North Channel.
• Wrecked about Barrie Island on October 18, 1899.
• No further detail on salvage efforts or inquiries post-loss.

Located By & Site Condition

• Status: Undocumented—no known subsequent surveys, dive records, or ROV footage.
• Location precision: Approximate area defined; GPS coordinates currently unavailable in accessible public archives.

Notices to Mariners / Advisories

• No known Notices to Mariners or official warnings specifically mention Frank Reid.
• Likely classed along with unnamed hazards in hydrographic bulletins of that era; specific records not located.

Resources & Archives

• Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (re: Frank Reid/Reed) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes)
• Suggested next‑step resources (where no direct hits found):
  • Bowling Green HCGL digital archives for registration and ownership files
  • Maritime History of the Great Lakes (digital library, Greatlakeships.org)
  • Historic newspaper searches (e.g., Ottawa Journal, Owen Sound Sun Times archives) around late October 1899 for storm and wreck reports
  • Library and Archives Canada for Meaford-built vessel records
  • Owen Sound and North Channel marine records

Research Gaps & Next Steps

• Crew & Command: No names surfaced—search muster roles, crew lists in HCGL or regional newspapers.
• Detailed Loss Report: Investigate local press or government bulletins following 18 Oct 1899 for contemporary accounts.
• Site Survey: None recorded—proposal: contact Michigan/Ontario dive charters or NOAA’s Thunder Bay sanctuary for unreported underwater surveys.
• Archival Deep Dive: Consult Fraser-Mississippi & NOAA Shipwreck Database; regional Museum (e.g., Owen Sound Marine Museum).

Conclusion

Frank Reid remains a typical late-19th-century wooden steam tug lost to stormy conditions in the North Channel. While basic registry and build data are confirmed, the lack of records on loss details or wreck discovery suggests an obscured history. For a definitive wreck-site profile and human narrative, significant archival work and possible underwater survey are recommended.

Keywords: Frank Reid, steam fishing tug, North Channel, 1886, 1899 shipwreck, wooden propeller, Ontario maritime heritage.

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