Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Langell Boys
- Type: Wooden screw-propelled steam barge
- Year Built: 1890
- Builder: Simon Langell & Sons, St. Clair, Michigan
- Dimensions: Original: Length 151 ft (46.0 m), Beam 30.3 ft (9.2 m), Depth 11.2 ft (3.4 m); Rebuilt 1921: Length 156.6 ft (47.7 m), Beam 33.8 ft (10.3 m), Depth 10.6 ft (3.2 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Gross 387.44 tons (original), 467.57 tons (after rebuild); Net 286.13 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 5.5 m / 18 ft
- Location: Approximately 6 miles south of AuSable, Michigan
- Coordinates: Approximate; two miles off the AuSable pierhead in 18 ft of water
- Official Number: 141067
- Original Owners: Simon Langell & Sons; later Mershon, Eddy & Parker Co.
- Number of Masts: None
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden screw-propelled steam barge designed for bulk lumber transport across the Great Lakes.
Description
Constructed in 1890 by the shipyard of Simon Langell & Sons at St. Clair, Michigan, the Langell Boys was a wooden-hull steam barge purpose-built for bulk lumber transport across the Great Lakes region. She was screw-propelled and powered by a for-and-aft compound engine paired with a fire-box boiler. The single-deck configuration and minimal superstructure enabled her to carry large volumes of lumber. In 1921 she underwent a major rebuild that lengthened and widened her hull, increasing her gross tonnage and overall capacity.
History
After her launch and enrollment at Port Huron, the Langell Boys entered service hauling timber from Georgian Bay and other lumber-rich regions. She towed schooner-barges such as the J.W. Hanaford and J.B. Comstock. In 1898 she lost 100,000 board feet of deck cargo in a storm. In the 1920s she operated under Mershon, Eddy & Parker Co. and was known locally as the “Little Red Barn.” On her final voyage in June 1931, a fire broke out in her coal bunker while en route in ballast to load lumber. The blaze spread uncontrollably. The crew abandoned ship and were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. The vessel burned and sank south of AuSable, Michigan.
Significant Incidents
- 1898: Lost 100,000 board feet of deck cargo in a storm.
- 1931: Caught fire and sank while en route to load lumber; crew rescued by U.S. Coast Guard.
Final Disposition
The Langell Boys was destroyed by fire and sank in approximately 18 ft of water. The vessel was declared a total loss and was removed from the ship registry on 17 June 1931. Wreckage likely lies scattered in the shallows off AuSable, though remains may have deteriorated or become obscured.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No confirmed modern discovery or survey has documented the wreck site of the Langell Boys. Some artifact recovery occurred in the 1960s by diver Jim Dougherty, suggesting partial remains exist in the vicinity of the loss.
Resources & Links
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The Langell Boys serves as a reminder of the maritime history of the Great Lakes and the hazards faced by wooden vessels. Divers are encouraged to respect the site and adhere to no-touch documentation methods.
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