Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: J.D. McFadden
- Type: Wooden Screw Tug (Towboat)
- Year Built: 1892
- Builder: Napoleon Grignon (built atop hull of earlier steamer Amethyst)
- Dimensions: Length 45 ft (13.72 m); Beam 11.6 ft (3.54 m); Depth of hold 6 ft (1.83 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 15.20 gross, 7.60 net tons
- Location: Basswood Lake, Hoist Bay, Ontario
- Official Number: 77041
- Original Owners: James McGee, Duluth, MN
- Number of Masts: One funnel, square bow/stern
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden Screw Tug (Towboat)
Description
The J.D. McFadden was a single-deck wooden screw tug, characterized by its one funnel and square bow and stern. Built in 1892 in Duluth, Minnesota, it was constructed by Napoleon Grignon using the hull of the earlier steamer Amethyst.
History
The primary function of the J.D. McFadden was as a logging tug on Fall Lake, Minnesota, during the early 20th century. It remained in service until around 1920, after which it was abandoned, reportedly on Basswood Lake, Hoist Bay. There are no publicly accessible hull records or maritime registries from Duluth or Ontario that document the abandonment or subsequent fate of the vessel.
Significant Incidents
- Abandoned around 1920 at Basswood Lake, Ontario.
Final Disposition
The J.D. McFadden was abandoned around 1920 at Basswood Lake, Hoist Bay. It is likely that the vessel was grounded and left in situ as an abandoned hull, with no known salvage or scuttling documented.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of now, the condition of the J.D. McFadden is uncertain, with no confirmed reports of its remains. It is suggested that a dive or sonar survey of Basswood Lake (Hoist Bay) could verify if wreck remains exist at shallow depths.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”j-d-mcfadden-us-77041″ title=”References & Links”]
The J.D. McFadden serves as a historical reminder of the logging industry in Minnesota and the informal practices surrounding vessel abandonment in remote inland waters. Its legacy highlights the importance of preserving maritime history, even when formal records are lacking.
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.
Wooden Screw Tug (Towboat)
Identification & Vessel Overview
- Name: J.D. McFadden
- Year Built: 1892, Duluth, Minnesota
- Builder: Napoleon Grignon (built atop hull of earlier steamer Amethyst)
- Official No.: 77041
- Type: Single-deck wooden screw tug – one funnel, square bow/stern
- Dimensions: Length 45 ft, beam 11.6 ft, depth 6 ft
- Tonnage: 15.20 gross, 7.60 net tons
- Original Owner: James McGee, Duluth, MN
History & Operational Use
- Primary function as logging tug on Fall Lake, Minnesota, during early 20th century.
- Continued in service until circa 1920, after which vessel was abandoned—reportedly on Basswood Lake, Hoist Bay.
No publicly accessible hull records or maritime registries from Duluth or Ontario list the abandonment or subsequent fate of J.D. McFadden.
Final Disposition
- Year: Around 1920
- Location: Reportedly Basswood Lake, Hoist Bay
- Condition: Likely grounded and left in situ as abandoned hull—no known salvage or scuttling documented
Summary Table
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | J.D. McFadden |
| Built | 1892, Duluth, MN |
| Type | Wooden screw tug |
| Dimensions | 45 × 11.6 × 6 ft; 15.20 gross tons |
| Final Status | Abandoned ~1920 at Basswood Lake, ON |
Research Gaps & Recommended Next Steps
- Local Archives: Check Duluth maritime logs and Minnesota logging company records for decommissioning entries or vessel transfers circa 1920.
- Ontario Land & Water Registries: Investigate Basswood Lake or Hoist Bay property records, which may note derelict hull removals or environmental clearances.
- Newspaper Archives: Search local periodicals (circa 1920) in Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, or Port Arthur for reports about abandoned logging vessels.
- Historical Society Outreach: Contact Ontario logging/marine historians or Great Lakes diver networks that may have knowledge of a wooden tug remnant in Hoist Bay.
- Field Survey: Dive or sonar survey of Basswood Lake (Hoist Bay) could verify if wreck remains exist at shallow depths.
Contextual Insights
- Built from the hull of older steamer Amethyst, J.D. McFadden reflects 19th-century recycling of vessel structures in inland lake regions.
- Small wooden tugs often lacked formal disposition records upon abandonment; local disposal was often unregulated or informal.
- Abandoned in remote inland waters (e.g. Basswood Lake), hulls seldom entered national maritime registries—even though they carry archaeological and industrial history value.