Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Henrietta
- Type: Scow or Barge
- Year Built: 1879
- Builder: Duluth, Minnesota
- Dimensions: 112 ft (34.14 m); 22 ft;
- Registered Tonnage:
- Depth at Wreck Site: 10 m / 33 ft
- Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, off Mission Island
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Identification
- Name: Henrietta (designation tentative; identified forthcoming)
- Type: Scow or barge (undetermined configuration)
- Year Built: 1879
- Construction: Wood
- Dimensions: 112 ft length × 22 ft beam
- Built At: Duluth, Minnesota
- Registration: Not currently found in official Canadian or U.S. marine registries
Description
Wreck Site & Disposition
- Final Disposition: Scuttled (intentionally sunk)
- Location: Thunder Bay “Ship Graveyard”, off Mission Island, Ontario (Lake Superior)
- Depth: Estimated 10–18 m (33–60 ft)
- Orientation: Reported upright; partially buried in sediment
- Structure Condition:
- Intact lower hull
- Upper hull largely deteriorated or stripped
- Framing and keel preserved in cold freshwater
- No deckhouse or machinery remains visible
History
Service & Operational History
- Likely employed as a freight scow, canal barge, or harbor-service vessel in the western Great Lakes.
- No definitive operational records yet recovered. May have transported bulk materials or been used in dredging support operations in or near Duluth and Thunder Bay.
- Similar vessels were often decommissioned after 30–40 years of use and scuttled deliberately.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- Scuttled intentionally as part of the Thunder Bay Ship Graveyard.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
The Henrietta was scuttled intentionally, contributing to the collection of vessels in the Thunder Bay Ship Graveyard.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is reported to be upright and partially buried in sediment, with an intact lower hull but a largely deteriorated upper hull. Visibility and accessibility may vary based on local conditions.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”henrietta” title=”References & Links”]
Historical & Archaeological Significance
Henrietta is a rare surviving example of a wooden scow or barge from the late 19th century. Her presence in Thunder Bay’s scuttled fleet reflects the economic shift and obsolescence of such utility vessels after steel-hulled tugs and powered barges became dominant. Studying her remains offers a unique look at the utilitarian craft that supported harbor construction, dredging, and bulk transport in Great Lakes industry.
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.
Henrietta (Scow or Barge)
Vessel Identification
- Name: Henrietta (designation tentative; identified forthcoming”)
- Type: Scow or barge (undetermined configuration)
- Year Built: 1879
- Construction: Wood
- Dimensions: 112 ft length × 22 ft beam
- Built At: Duluth, Minnesota
- Registration: Not currently found in official Canadian or U.S. marine registries
Service & Operational History
- Likely employed as a freight scow, canal barge, or harbor-service vessel in the western Great Lakes.
- No definitive operational records yet recovered. May have transported bulk materials or been used in dredging support operations in or near Duluth and Thunder Bay.
- Similar vessels were often decommissioned after 30–40 years of use and scuttled deliberately.
Wreck Site & Disposition
- Final Disposition: Scuttled (intentionally sunk)
- Location: Thunder Bay “Ship Graveyard”, off Mission Island, Ontario (Lake Superior)
- Depth: Estimated 10–18 m (33–60 ft)
- Orientation: Reported upright; partially buried in sediment
- Structure Condition:
- Intact lower hull
- Upper hull largely deteriorated or stripped
- Framing and keel preserved in cold freshwater
- No deckhouse or machinery remains visible
Archaeological Description
- Wooden construction, flat-bottomed
- Square stern, no evidence of propulsion or engine installation
- Fasteners: Iron spikes and treenails noted in exposed structural timbers
- No visible markings, registry plates, or artifact scatters in current photographic records
Sources & References
- Thunder Bay Ship Graveyard documentation, Ontario Marine Heritage Committee
- “From Abandonment to Deliberate Discard” (C. Niemi, 2015) – site report on scuttled vessels in Thunder Bay
(Academia.edu report) - Local Thunder Bay diver documentation and wreck mapping (Lakehead diving groups, informal surveys 2012–2020)
Research Gaps & Recommendations
| Focus Area | Proposed Actions |
|---|---|
| Vessel Identity | Match Duluth-built scows/barge plans (1875–1885) from port records with dimensions and construction features |
| Ownership History | Examine Duluth harbor logs and U.S. Customs entries for tugs or scows named Henrietta around 1879 |
| Construction Analysis | Conduct photogrammetric 3D mapping to assess build technique and confirm vessel class |
| Timber Analysis | Dendrochronology of hull wood to validate build year and regional sourcing |
| Contextual Study | Place within broader pattern of scuttled freight scows used in ore and timber transport on western Lake Superior |
Historical & Archaeological Significance
Henrietta 5 is a rare surviving example of a wooden scow or barge from the late 19th century. Her presence in Thunder Bay’s scuttled fleet reflects the economic shift and obsolescence of such utility vessels after steel-hulled tugs and powered barges became dominant. Studying her remains offers a unique look at the utilitarian craft that supported harbor construction, dredging, and bulk transport in Great Lakes industry.
henrietta 1937-07-20 20:41:00