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.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name(s): J.C. Ford
- Official Number: 76807
- Year Built: 1889
- Final Location: Near Little Trout Island, St. Marys River, Lake Huron
- Date Lost: 26 November 1924
- How: Caught fire and was totally destroyed
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
Final Disposition
Destroyed by fire on 26 November 1924. No loss of life noted. The remains were likely salvaged or left submerged.
Located By & Date Found
No official rediscovery or wreck documentation noted. Wreck not known to be surveyed or dived.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- Dossin Great Lakes Museum
- U.S. National Archives – Enrollments
- Edward J. Dowling Collection, University of Detroit – Mercy
- H.G. Runge Collection, Milwaukee Public Library
- Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
- William MacDonald Collection
- Donald V. Baut notes
Conclusion
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.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
wooden steambarge, iron ore trade, St. Marys River, fire loss, cargo vessel, package freight, Great Lakes commerce, late 19th-century shipbuilding, compound engine, Michigan-built vessels.
j-c-ford-us-76807 1924-11-26 11:14:00