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.

A wooden barge and later propeller vessel active on Lake Superior–Lake Huron waters

Vessel Identity & Specifications

• Built: 1862 by Stevens & Presley in Cleveland, Ohio
• Tonnage & Size: Approx. 132 × 28 × 12 ft; ~332 gross / 255 net tons
• Official Number: 16445
  

Major Loss Events

July 17, 1911 — Fire at Owner’s Dock

• Destroyed by fire while tied up at her owner’s dock in Marine City, Michigan. The blaze led to total loss, but no crew members were aboard, so no lives lost.
• Documents indicate the vessel was registered out of Marine City, and the loss officially recorded on July 17, 1911.

Sinking in Portage Canal / Lake Superior (1906)

• Prior to the 1911 fire, Maine is reported to have sank in 1906 in the Portage Canal on Lake Superior. This incident likely resulted from flooding or grounding within the waterway.
• However, the ship was apparently salvaged or refloated and returned to service—implied by its continued operation until 1911.

Other Reported Losses

• Additional entries list the vessel as lost in 1898 and 1899, though details are missing. These may reflect storm damage, temporary abandonments, or misfiled clerical entries rather than total destruction at those times.

Summary Table

Field	Details
Vessel Name	Maine
Built	1862, Cleveland, by Stevens & Presley
Official Number	16445
Dimensions / Tonnage	~132 × 28 × 12 ft; ~332 gt / 255 nt
Reported Loss Events	1898, 1899, 1906 (partial), final fire 1911
Final Incident	Fire at dock, Marine City, MI — July 17, 1911
Casualties	None (no crew aboard at final fire)
Final Disposition	Burned to waterline; unrecovered

Historical Context & Interpretation

• The vessel’s repeated listings of damage or sinking in 1898, 1899, and 1906 suggest multiple serious incidents over her ~50-year career. The 1906 Portage Canal sinking in Lake Superior suggests minor loss and quick salvage, given her continued operation until the 1911 fire.
• The final fire on July 17, 1911 at her dock in Marine City was a total destruction of the vessel and she was officially removed from the register with no crew aboard.

Recommendations for Further Research

To further clarify Maine‘s operational history and the nature of the 1906 incident:

• Marine City & Portage Canal local newspapers (1906–1911) for reports of sinking, salvage, docking mishaps, and the 1911 fire.
• Insurance or underwriting logs — likely include claims under Official No. 16445 for multiple loss events.
• Port registry documents in Marine City or Cleveland — to trace ownership transfers and the vessel’s re-registration history.
• Great Lakes vessel inspection logs — may contain records of repairs, refits, and loss recoveries.

Final Statement

The vessel Maine, built in 1862 (Official No. 16445), survived multiple damaging incidents throughout her service life—including a sinking in the Portage Canal (1906)—but was ultimately destroyed by fire at her owner’s dock in Marine City on July 17, 1911, with no casualties. Earlier listings (1898, 1899) suggest repeated storm-related or operational incidents prior to her final destruction.

maine-us-16445 1911-07-17 11:13:00