Shotline Diving

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N. Ellen M C 111851 (Molly S)

Explore the remains of the N. Ellen M, a wooden-hulled steam tug lost to fire in 1949, a casualty of the Cloquet Forest Fire.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: N. Ellen M (formerly Molly S)
  • Type: Wooden-hulled steam tug (propeller-driven)
  • Year Built: 1901
  • Builder: Simms, Manitowaning, Ontario
  • Dimensions: 68 × 12 × 5 ft; 25 GRT / 15 NRT
  • Registered Tonnage: 25 GRT / 15 NRT
  • Location: 5 miles east of Cabot Head, Georgian Bay
  • Official Number: C111851

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden-hulled steam tug, propeller-driven, designed for towing operations.

Description

The N. Ellen M, originally named Molly S, was constructed in 1901 and served in various towing capacities. It was renamed in 1935 and operated alongside other vessels and dredging equipment.

History

Constructed in Manitowaning, Ontario, the N. Ellen M was built for regional towing operations. It changed ownership multiple times and was involved in local maritime activities until its loss in 1949.

Significant Incidents

  • The vessel caught fire and burned to a total loss while anchored at Grassy Point.
  • The blaze occurred amid the devastating Cloquet Forest Fire, which also affected nearby facilities and vessels.
  • No casualties were reported aboard the N. Ellen M, likely due to it being uncrewed at the time.

Final Disposition

The N. Ellen M was completely destroyed by fire, leaving only remnants of the dock and debris at the anchorage site. Its loss is considered part of a larger ecological disaster rather than a typical wreck.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The site of the N. Ellen M is not recognized as a marine archaeological site but rather as a historical casualty of the Cloquet Forest Fire, with no significant remains to explore.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”n-ellen-m-c-111851-molly-s” title=”References & Links”]

The N. Ellen M’s loss highlights the impact of terrestrial wildfires on maritime infrastructure, serving as a reminder of the interconnectedness of land and water environments.

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.

Steam Tug – Built 1901, Lost August 6, 1949

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

Construction & Operational History

Constructed in 1901 in Manitowaning, Ontario, for regional towing operations. It served through multiple owners and was renamed from Molly S. to N. Ellen M. in 1935. The tug worked alongside other vessels and dredge equipment in local operations.

Final Disaster: Fire (August 6, 1949)

  • The vessel caught fire and burned to a total loss while anchored at Grassy Point (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • The blaze occurred amid the devastating Cloquet Forest Fire, which also consumed Northern Dock & Dredge’s warehouse, dock, dredge Duluth, tugs Ella G. Stone, Mentor, John H. Jeffrey Jr., plus several scows and auxiliary vessels (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • The fire ignited and consumed the tug, dock facilities, and nearby vessels; no record of casualties aboard N. Ellen M. (likely uncrewed at the time) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Disposition & Site Condition

  • The N. Ellen M. was completely destroyed by fire—only remains of the dock and burned debris persisted at the anchorage site.
  • Her loss was part of a massive regional industrial and ecological disaster; the wreck is not considered a marine archaeological site but a historical casualty of a major forest fire event.

Sources & References

Context & Significance

The scouring forest fires of August 1949 (initiated by Ivory Burn near Cloquet, Minnesota) spread across northern regions, decimating forest and industrial installations. N. Ellen M. was one of nine vessels lost in Georgian Bay alone. The destruction illustrates how terrestrial wildfires can abruptly erase maritime infrastructure and vessels at dock.

Recommendations for Further Archival Research

  • Investigate Cloquet Fire records (Minnesota historical archives) to refine timeline and harbor fire spread.
  • Review Northern Dock & Dredge Company files, if available in Ontario archives, for dock plans and loss documentation.
  • Examine Ontario maritime incident reports (1949) for insurance claims, salvage attempts, or environmental clean-up logs.
  • Locate local newspaper coverage in communities like Wiarton, Tobermory, or Killarney (Aug–Sep 1949) for eyewitness accounts, vessel lists, and human impacts.

Conclusion

The N. Ellen M. was lost not to storms or mechanical failure but to the ravages of the Cloquet Forest Fire of 1949. Anchored in Georgian Bay, she was consumed by flames along with dock facilities and multiple vessels. Though not a typical wreck site for divers, her loss offers a compelling case study of how forest fires can abruptly devastate maritime operations and reshape coastal industrial landscapes.

Would you like assistance in locating company records, wildfire archives, or period newspaper stories relating to the N. Ellen M. and neighboring losses?

n-ellen-m-c-111851-molly-s 1949-08-06 20:53:00