Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Langham (formerly Tom Adams)
- Type: Wooden bulk propeller
- Year Built: 1888
- Builder: West Bay City, Michigan
- Dimensions: 281.1 ft (85.7 m) × 41.4 ft (12.6 m) × 20.0 ft (6.1 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 1,810 gross tons; 1,451 net tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 32 m / 105 ft
- Location: Off Keweenaw Point, Lake Superior
- Coordinates: N 47° 22.370′, W 087° 55.530′
- Official Number: [Not listed]
- Original Owners: [Not recorded]
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Langham, originally launched as the Tom Adams, was a wooden bulk propeller designed for Great Lakes cargo service.
Description
The Langham, originally launched as the Tom Adams in 1888 at West Bay City, Michigan, was a large wooden-hulled bulk propeller designed for Great Lakes cargo service. At over 281 feet in length and powered by a 900 IHP engine, she represented the late era of wooden freighter construction before steel-hulled bulk carriers became dominant. Her primary trade was the transport of iron ore, coal, and grain, vital to the region’s industrial growth.
History
Built as the Tom Adams in 1888, the vessel was later renamed Langham. She operated across the Great Lakes for more than two decades, hauling bulk commodities between Upper Lakes ports and industrial centers.
On October 23, 1910, while off Keweenaw Point in Lake Superior, a catastrophic fire broke out aboard. Despite efforts to save her, the flames spread quickly through the vessel’s wooden hull and superstructure. Fortunately, all ten persons on board escaped without injury. The vessel was declared a total loss and abandoned where she burned.
Significant Incidents
- October 23, 1910: The Langham caught fire off Keweenaw Point, resulting in a total loss.
Final Disposition
Destroyed by fire off Keweenaw Point, Lake Superior, in October 1910. Declared a total loss. The wreck remains in 90–105 ft (27–32 m) of water at the documented coordinates. Portions of the wooden hull and machinery survive on the lakebed.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck lies in 90–105 ft of water off Keweenaw Point. Diver reports confirm wooden hull remains with machinery components present. No official archaeological photogrammetry or 3D survey has been published.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”langham-tom-adams” title=”References & Links”]
The Langham serves as a reminder of the era of wooden freighters on the Great Lakes, with its remains providing insight into maritime history and the challenges faced by vessels of its time.
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 Card (Site Style)
Other Names: Tom Adams (original name)
Official Number: [Not listed]
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Wooden bulk propeller
Builder: West Bay City, Michigan
Year Built: April 24, 1888
Dimensions: 281.1 ft (85.7 m) × 41.4 ft (12.6 m) × 20.0 ft (6.1 m)
Tonnage: 1,810 gross tons; 1,451 net tons
Power: 900 indicated horsepower
Cargo on Final Voyage: [Not recorded]
Date of Loss: 23 October 1910
Cause of Loss: Fire, declared total constructive loss
Final Location: Off Keweenaw Point, Lake Superior
Coordinates: N 47° 22.370′, W 087° 55.530′ (Google Maps link)
Depth: 90–105 ft (27–32 m)
Crew: 10 (all survived)
Casualties: None
Description
The Langham, originally launched as the Tom Adams in 1888 at West Bay City, Michigan, was a large wooden-hulled bulk propeller designed for Great Lakes cargo service. At over 281 feet in length and powered by a 900 IHP engine, she represented the late era of wooden freighter construction before steel-hulled bulk carriers became dominant. Her primary trade was the transport of iron ore, coal, and grain, vital to the region’s industrial growth.
History
Built as the Tom Adams in 1888, the vessel was later renamed Langham. She operated across the Great Lakes for more than two decades, hauling bulk commodities between Upper Lakes ports and industrial centers.
On October 23, 1910, while off Keweenaw Point in Lake Superior, a catastrophic fire broke out aboard. Despite efforts to save her, the flames spread quickly through the vessel’s wooden hull and superstructure. Fortunately, all ten persons on board escaped without injury. The vessel was declared a total loss and abandoned where she burned.
Final Disposition
Destroyed by fire off Keweenaw Point, Lake Superior, in October 1910. Declared a total loss. The wreck remains in 90–105 ft (27–32 m) of water at the documented coordinates. Portions of the wooden hull and machinery survive on the lakebed.
Located By & Date Found
Known since the time of loss (1910). Wreck location documented at 47°22.370′N, 87°55.530′W.
Notmars & Advisories
No current Notices to Mariners specific to this wreck. Depth and location pose no navigational hazard. Protected under Michigan underwater heritage law.
Dive Information
Access: Boat dive required
Entry Point: Charters available from Copper Harbor and Eagle Harbor, Michigan
Conditions: Clear but cold water, strong thermocline below 60 ft; currents possible
Depth Range: 90–105 ft (27–32 m)
Emergency Contacts: USCG Sector Sault Ste. Marie
Permits: Artifact removal prohibited under Michigan law
Dive Support: Regional dive charters service the Keweenaw wrecks
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No fatalities were reported. No specific memorials associated with the vessel have been located.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The bulk propeller Langham, formerly the Tom Adams, caught fire off Keweenaw Point. Though the crew escaped unharmed, the vessel burned fiercely and was declared a total loss.” — Contemporary maritime reports, October 1910.
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Officially enrolled as the Tom Adams at launch in 1888, later renamed Langham. Registry number not identified in surviving records. Listed tonnage: 1,810 gross, 1,451 net. Insurance status at time of loss not confirmed.
Site Documentation & Imaging
The wreck lies in 90–105 ft of water off Keweenaw Point. Diver reports confirm wooden hull remains with machinery components present. No official archaeological photogrammetry or 3D survey has been published.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Michigan EGLE – Underwater Preserves
References
- Great Lakes Registry Records (Buffalo & Bay City enrollments, 1888).
- Maritime casualty reports, October 1910.
- Swayze, David. *Shipwreck! A Comprehensive Directory of Great Lakes Losses, 1679–1990.*
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: Tom Adams
Official Number: [Not listed]
Coordinates: N 47° 22.370′, W 087° 55.530′ (Google Maps)
Depth: 90–105 ft (27–32 m)
Location Description: Off Keweenaw Point, Lake Superior
Vessel Type: Wooden bulk propeller
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 281.1 × 41.4 × 20.0 ft; 1,810 gross tons
Condition: Burned wreck, partial remains intact
Cause of Loss: Fire, 23 October 1910
Discovery Date: Known since 1910 loss
Discovered By: N/A
Method: Documented sinking
Legal Notes: Protected under Michigan law
Hazards: Deep dive site; structural collapse
Permits Required: Yes, for survey or artifact recovery
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