N. J. Nessen (H. Luella Worthington) US 95603

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

Name: N. J. Nessen
Type: Wooden propeller bulk freighter
Year Built: 1880
Builder: D. Root, Lorain, Ohio
Dimensions: 149 ft × 28 ft × 12 ft (45.4 × 8.5 × 3.7 m)
Registered Tonnage: 375 gross tons, 320 net tons
Location: Pigeon Bay, near Leamington, Ontario
Coordinates: Unknown
Official Number: 95603
Original Owners: Unknown (research gap)
Number of Masts: Unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden propeller bulk freighter.

Description

The N. J. Nessen was a small wooden-hulled bulk freighter, representative of the late 19th-century Great Lakes fleet. Originally built as the H. Luella Worthington in 1880 at Lorain, Ohio, by D. Root, the vessel measured 149 ft (45.4 m) in length with a beam of 28 ft (8.5 m) and a depth of 12 ft (3.7 m). She registered 375 gross and 320 net tons. Designed for general bulk cargo trade, she was re-registered as N. J. Nessen in 1904.

History

The freighter operated across the Great Lakes, hauling lumber, iron, and bulk freight. In 1919, while on a winter voyage in Georgian Bay, she was punctured by ice and sank to her decks near Meaford, Ontario. The vessel was subsequently raised, repaired, and returned to service.

On her final voyage in October 1929, N. J. Nessen carried a load of scrap iron across Lake Erie. In the midst of a severe gale, she broke in two near Leamington, Ontario, and foundered in Pigeon Bay.

Significant Incidents

1919: Sank due to ice puncture in Georgian Bay; raised and repaired.
1929: Broke in two during a gale and sank in Pigeon Bay; all 13 crew members rescued.

Final Disposition

Despite many accounts that all hands were lost, contemporary reports confirm that all 13 crew members survived. Local fishermen from the Leamington region rescued the crew. The vessel was a total loss, and the wreck remains uncharted.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck site has not been positively identified by divers or modern surveys. Some debris may remain on the lake bottom near Pigeon Bay, but no confirmed charted site exists. Access is currently not available as the wreck is unlocated.

Resources & Links

Closing Summary

The N. J. Nessen represents a significant piece of Great Lakes maritime history, with its loss during a storm highlighting the dangers faced by vessels of its time. Ongoing research may yet uncover more about its final resting place.