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
Vessel Type
Wooden propeller bulk freighter.
Description
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
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
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
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
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
[shotline_reference_links slug=”n-j-nessen-h-luella-worthington-us-95603″ title=”References & 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.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
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.Final Dispositions
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.Located By & Date Found
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.Notmars & Advisories
Listed in historical Notices to Mariners; current hazard advisories: None noted.Dive Information
Access: None – wreck unlocated Entry Point: N/A Conditions: Lake Erie storms, poor visibility; no known site Depth Range: Unknown Emergency Contacts: U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit, Canadian Coast Guard (Leamington) Permits: Required for disturbance of wreckage Dive Support: None specific to this wreckCrew & Casualty Memorials
All 13 crew members survived; no fatalities recorded. Crew identities require further research in local Leamington newspapers (October–November 1929) and Canadian rescue reports.Documented Statements & Extracts
“Despite reports that the entire crew was lost, the men of the *N. J. Nessen* were brought ashore alive by local fishermen of Pigeon Bay.” — Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (secondary account).
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
U.S. Official Number 95603. Registered as *H. Luella Worthington* (1880), renamed *N. J. Nessen* in 1904. Enrollment data and insurance records not yet located.Site Documentation & Imaging
No confirmed sonar, magnetometer, or dive imagery exists. A modern survey effort in Pigeon Bay may yet locate hull remnants or scattered cargo.Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
- Newspapers.com
- Find A Grave
References
- *Great Lakes Shipwreck Files* – entry for N. J. Nessen / H. Luella Worthington
- “N. J. Nessen” discussion thread, flybridge.proboards.com (shipwreck forum summary)