Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: James W. Follette
- Type: Wooden screw steamer
- Year Built: 1881
- Builder: Linn & Craig, Gibraltar, Michigan
- Dimensions: 195 ft (59.4 m) × 33 ft (10.0 m) × 12 ft (3.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 756 gross tons
- Location: Near Ogdensburg, New York
- Official Number: 116816
- Original Owners: William Follette, Plunkett Navigation Co., George Hall Coal & Transportation Co.
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The James W. Follette was a screw-propelled wooden freight steamer, one of many late 19th-century bulk carriers that served the Great Lakes. With a gross tonnage of 756 and an advanced I.W. Buhl engine, she was a capable carrier of coal, grain, and heavy cargo, bridging U.S. and Canadian ports. Built by Linn & Craig in 1881, she embodied the shift away from sail toward efficient screw steamers.
Description
Construction & Early Service:
Launched in 1881 at Gibraltar, Michigan, for William Follette of Buffalo, NY. Initially U.S.-registered, she traded across the upper lakes hauling bulk cargo.
Ownership Changes:
1916 – Sold to Plunkett Navigation Co., Colborne, Ontario.
1917 – Acquired by George Hall Coal & Transportation Co., Toronto.
1920s – Operated in Canadian service until her loss.
History
Final Voyage & Abandonment:
On May 15, 1923, during a severe gale near Ogdensburg, NY, the Follette lost her rudder and became unmanageable. The crew made shore safely, but the vessel was left derelict and later stricken from registry in 1924. No salvage was attempted.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents:
– May 15, 1923: The freighter James W. Follette was abandoned near Ogdensburg after the loss of her rudder in a severe gale. Her crew made shore safely, but the vessel, battered and helpless, was given up. — Ogdensburg Republican-Journal, May 16, 1923.
Final Disposition
Abandoned at Ogdensburg, New York, following storm damage and loss of rudder. Registry closed in 1924. The wreck has not been documented by modern divers and is presumed broken up or silt-covered.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site has not been charted. Given wooden construction and abandonment in shallow waters, it is likely deteriorated or dispersed. No diver surveys published to date.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”james-w-follette-us-116816″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
As a reminder, Shotline Diving encourages divers to respect historical sites and artifacts. Please remember to leave only bubbles and take only memories. If you encounter any debris, consider removing only garbage to leave the site better than you found it.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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