Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: J.C. HUBBARD
- Type: Wooden propeller-driven ferry
- Year Built: 1871
- Builder: S.J. Tripp, Bay City, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length 45 ft (13.7 m); Beam 9 ft (2.7 m); Depth of hold 4 ft (1.2 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 8 tons
- Location: Saginaw River, Lake Huron
- Official Number: 75075
- Original Owners: Not documented
- Number of Masts: 1
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The J.C. HUBBARD was a small wooden ferry, built for short-distance transportation across the Saginaw River. Ferries like this were common in the late 19th century, serving local communities, passengers, and small freight loads.
Built in Bay City, Michigan, the vessel was likely used for river crossings or short-haul transport, though little historical record exists of its exact operations.
Description
The J.C. HUBBARD had a service life of 18 years before it was sunk in a collision in 1889.
History
The J.C. HUBBARD was built in Bay City, Michigan, as a small wooden steam ferry in 1871. It operated on the Saginaw River, likely ferrying passengers, goods, or small cargo loads between towns along the river until its loss in 1889.
Significant Incidents
- 1871: Built in Bay City, Michigan, as a small wooden steam ferry.
- 1871-1889: Operated on the Saginaw River, likely ferrying passengers, goods, or small cargo loads between towns along the river.
Final Disposition
The J.C. HUBBARD was lost on October 29, 1889, when it sank in a collision on the Saginaw River, Lake Huron.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Nil return. There are no confirmed reports of the J.C. HUBBARD‘s wreck being discovered or surveyed in the Saginaw River. Given the shallow depth and shifting river sediments, any remains may be buried or dispersed.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”j-c-hubbard-us-75075″ title=”References & Links”]
The J.C. HUBBARD is one of the many small, undocumented vessels lost on the Great Lakes, highlighting the risks faced by even short-haul ferries in busy waterways. Its loss in 1889 remains a mystery, as no official records confirm whether it was salvaged or abandoned.
If you’d like to learn more about other lost vessels on the Saginaw River, Great Lakes ferries, or collision-related wrecks, let me know!
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.
Identification & Site Information
- Name: J.C. HUBBARD (sometimes recorded as J.G. HUBBARD)
- Other Names: None reported
- Official Number: 75075
- Date Built and Launched: 1871
- Builder: S.J. Tripp, Bay City, Michigan
- Original Owner: Not documented
- Vessel Type: Wooden propeller-driven ferry
- Hull Materials: Wood
- Number of Decks: 1
- Power:
- Propulsion: Screw propeller (single propeller)
- Engine Type: Steam-powered
- Measurements:
- Length: 45 ft (13.7 m)
- Beam: 9 ft (2.7 m)
- Depth: 4 ft (1.2 m)
- Tonnage (Gross): 8 tons
Vessel Type
The J.C. HUBBARD was a small wooden ferry, built for short-distance transportation across the Saginaw River. Ferries like this were common in the late 19th century, serving local communities, passengers, and small freight loads.
Built in Bay City, Michigan, the vessel was likely used for river crossings or short-haul transport, though little historical record exists of its exact operations.
History
The J.C. HUBBARD had a service life of 18 years before it was sunk in a collision in 1889.
Key Events in the Vessel’s History:
- 1871: Built in Bay City, Michigan, as a small wooden steam ferry.
- 1871-1889: Operated on the Saginaw River, likely ferrying passengers, goods, or small cargo loads between towns along the river.
Final Disposition
The J.C. HUBBARD was lost on October 29, 1889, when it sank in a collision on the Saginaw River, Lake Huron.
The Disaster
- Details of the collision remain unknown, including the identity of the other vessel involved.
- The extent of damage and whether there were any fatalities is uncertain.
- There is no confirmed record of the vessel being raised or recovered, suggesting it may have been abandoned after sinking.
Located By & Date Found
Nil return. There are no confirmed reports of the J.C. HUBBARD‘s wreck being discovered or surveyed in the Saginaw River.
Given the shallow depth and shifting river sediments, any remains may be buried or dispersed.
Notmars & Advisories
Nil return. No modern navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported in the Saginaw River, Michigan.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships Database
- David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File
Conclusion
The J.C. HUBBARD is one of the many small, undocumented vessels lost on the Great Lakes, highlighting the risks faced by even short-haul ferries in busy waterways.
Its loss in 1889 remains a mystery, as no official records confirm whether it was salvaged or abandoned.
If you’d like to learn more about other lost vessels on the Saginaw River, Great Lakes ferries, or collision-related wrecks, let me know!
The J.C. HUBBARD was a small wooden ferry, built for short-distance transportation across the Saginaw River. Ferries like this were common in the late 19th century, serving local communities, passengers, and small freight loads. j-c-hubbard-us-75075 1889-10-29 07:56:00