J.C. Ford – Lake Huron Barge Shipwreck (1924)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: J.C. Ford
• Type: Steambarge
• Year Built: 1889
• Builder:
• Dimensions: Length 172 ft (52.4 m); Beam 33 ft (10.1 m); Depth of hold 12 ft (3.7 m)
• Registered Tonnage: Originally 520.43, later rebuilt to 710.57, then reduced to 609.74
• Location: Near Little Trout Island, St. Marys River, Lake Huron
• Official Number: 76807
• Original Owners: Various, including Syd. Scott & partners, Nipigon Transit Co., and Canadian interests

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden-hulled steambarge, also used for package freight and bulk cargo. A typical multipurpose vessel common to late 19th-century Great Lakes commerce.

Description

• Hull Material: Wood
• Decks: Initially 1; rebuilt in 1891 with 2 decks, later returned to 1
• Length: 52.4 m (172 ft)
• Beam: 10.1 m (33 ft)
• Depth: 3.7 m (12 ft)
• Gross Tonnage: Originally 520.43, later rebuilt to 710.57, then reduced to 609.74
• Net Tonnage: Varied from 407.79 to 597.93 depending on rebuilds
• Propulsion: Screw, with a for-and-aft compound engine (19″ & 36″ cylinders × 30″ stroke)
• Boiler: Firebox type, 9′ × 15′, 112 psi, built by Johnson Bros., Ferrysburg, MI
• Horsepower: 410 hp @ 92 rpm (engine by S.F. Hodge, Detroit)

History

• 1889: Enrolled at Grand Haven, MI; originally built for iron ore service from Escanaba
• 1891: Rebuilt with two decks and expanded tonnage
• 1892: Sold to Syd. Scott & partners, based in Mt. Clemens, MI; ran between Duluth and Ogdensburg
• 1898: Chartered for trade between Milwaukee, WI and St. Joseph, MI
• 1900: Ownership transferred to Nipigon Transit Co., Grosse Pointe, MI
• 1902: Rebuilt again to reduce to a single deck
• 1922: Sold to Canadian interests
• 1924: Burned near Little Trout Island in the St. Marys River; declared total loss

Significant Incidents

• Burned on 26 November 1924, resulting in total destruction of the vessel.
• No loss of life noted during the incident.

Final Disposition

Destroyed by fire on 26 November 1924. No loss of life noted. The remains were likely salvaged or left submerged.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No official rediscovery or wreck documentation noted. Wreck not known to be surveyed or dived.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”j-c-ford-us-76807″ title=”References & Links”]

The J.C. Ford is a textbook example of a late 19th-century wooden steambarge, demonstrating adaptive reuse through decades of cargo service on the Great Lakes. Though ultimately destroyed by fire, it served over 35 years under multiple owners, reflecting the economic shifts in lake freight. Her loss in the St. Marys River marks the end of a lengthy and varied service life.