Langham (Tom Adams)

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

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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.