Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: MINNIE HALL
- Type: Wooden Propeller Steam Tug
- Year Built: 1869
- Builder: Simpson, St. Catharines, Ontario
- Dimensions: 68 ft (20.7 m); Beam 14 ft (4.3 m); Depth of hold 7 ft (2.1 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 42 gross tons
- Location: Mouth of the Magnetawan River, near Byng Inlet, Lake Huron
- Official Number: C90696
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden Propeller Steam TugDescription
The MINNIE HALL was a small wooden steam tug, built in 1869 in St. Catharines, Ontario, and used primarily for towing and assisting vessels in harbours and along shipping routes.
The vessel underwent a major rebuild in 1882, likely reinforcing her hull and machinery to extend her operational life.
She was registered out of St. Catharines, though by 1898, one source suggests that she may have been renamed MINITAGA—however, this remains unconfirmed.
By 1902, MINNIE HALL was still in active service, operating near Byng Inlet and the Magnetawan River, key locations for lumber and shipping industries along Lake Huron’s northeastern shore.
History
On July 2, 1902, while operating near the mouth of the Magnetawan River, MINNIE HALL caught fire and was completely destroyed.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, but steam tugs were particularly vulnerable to boiler and engine-related fires, as well as accidental ignition from sparks or cargo.
Details regarding casualties are unclear, but there are no confirmed reports of loss of life.
The wreck was never salvaged, and the vessel was declared a total loss.
Significant Incidents
- July 2, 1902: Caught fire and was destroyed at the mouth of the Magnetawan River, near Byng Inlet, Lake Huron.
- Cause of fire: Unknown.
- Declared a total loss: Yes.
- Confirmed fatalities: None reported.
Final Disposition
Burned and destroyed at the mouth of the Magnetawan River, near Byng Inlet, Lake Huron, on July 2, 1902.
- Cause of fire unknown
- Declared a total loss
- No confirmed fatalities
Current Condition & Accessibility
Nil—there are no confirmed reports of MINNIE HALL‘s wreck being located.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”minnie-hall-c-90696-minitaga” title=”References & Links”]
The MINNIE HALL was a veteran Great Lakes steam tug, operating for over 30 years before being lost to fire in 1902.
Her precise fate remains somewhat mysterious, particularly regarding her possible renaming as MINITAGA in 1898.
If discovered, the wreck could provide insight into early steam tugs on the Great Lakes, as well as the industrial history of the Byng Inlet region, which was an important hub for the logging industry at the time.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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