George T. Hope – Lake Superior Freighter Shipwreck (1912)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: George T. Hope
• Type: Wooden Bulk Freighter
• Year Built: 1883
• Builder: James Davidson, West Bay City, MI
• Dimensions: 263 ft (80.2 m) X 39.1 ft (11.9 m); Depth: 19 ft (5.8 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 1558.73
• Location: Near Grand Island, Lake Superior
• Official Number: 85800
• Original Owners: Thomas Fitzpatrick, Mentor Steamship Co.

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden Bulk Freighter, later operating as a tow vessel. Noted for having two stacks, external diagonal hull bracing, a plain bow, and a round stern—design characteristics common in Great Lakes wooden bulk freighters of the era.

Description

• Hull Material: Wood
• Decks: 2
• Length: 263 ft (80.2 m)
• Beam: 39.1 ft (11.9 m)
• Depth: 19 ft (5.8 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 1558.73
• Net Tonnage: 1275.77
• Capacity: ~2,600 tons coal
• Propulsion: Screw
• Engine Type: For-and-Aft Compound, 850 hp at 75 rpm
  • Cylinders: 25″ and 50″ x 40″, Frontier Engine Works, Buffalo, NY (1883)
• Boilers: 2 Firebox types, 105 psi
• Builder: James Davidson, West Bay City, MI
• Launched: July 1883

History

• 1883: Enrolled at Buffalo, NY; initially towed vessels such as SUR WATSON and later DAVID VANCE.
• 1884–90s: Operated heavily as a tow vessel; grounded several times (1886 at Sault Ste. Marie and Lake George Flats).
• 1890s: Owned by Thomas Fitzpatrick and later by Mentor Steamship Co., OH.
• 1894–98: Involved in incidents, including gale damage off Conneaut and a collision at Harsens Island.
• 1904: Sank at ore dock in Escanaba, MI; abandoned and later salvaged.
• 1907: Rebuilt and renamed Culligan, managed by Patrick Culligan of Alpena, MI.
• 1912: After weeks of reported leaking, the vessel’s pumps failed on 27 September near Grand Island. The engine room flooded, extinguishing the fires. Captain Richardson ordered the crew to abandon ship. No loss of life reported.

Significant Incidents

• Grounded several times during its service, including incidents in 1886.
• Involved in gale damage off Conneaut and a collision at Harsens Island in the late 1890s.
• Sank at an ore dock in Escanaba in 1904.

Final Disposition

George T. Hope foundered near Grand Island, Lake Superior, in the early morning hours after ongoing structural and mechanical failures. She was declared a total loss, and her registration was officially surrendered on 11 October 1912.

Current Condition & Accessibility

As of now, no confirmed modern discovery of the wreck has been reported.

Resources & Links

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The George T. Hope exemplified the transitional era of large wooden freighters on the Great Lakes, operating both as a cargo carrier and tow vessel. Despite extensive modifications and repairs over its lifetime—including significant rebuilds—it ultimately succumbed to age and neglect. Its loss reflects the operational hazards of wooden steamers under heavy load late in the shipping season.