Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Northern Dock & Dredge Scow No. 3
- Type: Wooden work scow (unpowered flat-deck barge)
- Year Built: 1892
- Builder: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 175 tons
- Location: Grassy Point, Duluth, Lake Superior
- Coordinates: string
- Official Number: 163490
- Original Owners: Northern Dock & Dredge Co., Duluth, MN
- Number of Masts: string
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden work scow (unpowered flat-deck barge)
Description
The Northern Dock & Dredge Scow No. 3 was a wooden work scow built in 1892 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was part of the Northern Dock & Dredge Company’s fleet, primarily used for dredging and other waterfront operations.
History
The scow was constructed in 1892 and served the Northern Dock & Dredge Company in Duluth, Minnesota. It was one of several vessels used for dredging operations in the area.
Significant Incidents
- On October 12, 1918, the scow was completely destroyed by fire while ashore at her mooring on Grassy Point, Duluth, during the Cloquet Forest Fire disaster.
- The fire was part of a larger incident that affected multiple vessels and facilities along the waterfront.
Final Disposition
The scow was burned to the waterline and was completely destroyed. No casualties were reported as a result of the fire.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Northern Dock & Dredge Scow No. 3 is no longer extant due to the fire that consumed it in 1918. The site may be of historical interest, but no physical remains are available for exploration.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”northern-dock-dredge-scow-no-3-us-163490″ title=”References & Links”]
The destruction of the Northern Dock & Dredge Scow No. 3 serves as a reminder of the vulnerabilities of wooden vessels to catastrophic events such as the Cloquet Forest Fire, which had a significant impact on the industrial landscape of Duluth.
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.
Northern Dock & Dredge Scow No. 3
- Official No.: 163490
- Type: Wooden work scow (unpowered flat-deck barge)
- Built: 1892, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Gross/Net Tonnage: 175 tons
Catastrophic Loss – October 12, 1918
- Event: As ashore at her mooring on Grassy Point (Duluth, Lake Superior), Scow No. 3 was completely destroyed by fire
- Context: The incident was part of the broader Cloquet Forest Fire disaster, where the flames swept through Northern Dock & Dredge Company’s waterfront facilities, destroying multiple vessels
- Outcome: No casualties reported
Incident Overview
- Part of a larger group of assets lost: the dredge Duluth, tugs Ella G. Stone and Mentor, scows No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 40 were all destroyed
- The fire originated onshore and spread rapidly across the dock area, engulfing wooden hulls and infrastructure in a single sweeping blaze
Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Northern Dock & Dredge Scow No. 3 |
| Built | 1892 in Milwaukee, WI; 175 GRT |
| Owner | Northern Dock & Dredge Co., Duluth, MN |
| Loss Date | October 12, 1918 |
| Location | Grassy Point, Duluth, Lake Superior |
| Cause | Dock fire triggered by Cloquet Forest Fire |
| Casualties | None |
| Fate | Burned to the waterline, wreck destroyed |
Historical Significance
- The destruction of Scow No. 3 is part of the broader narrative of the 1918 Cloquet fire, a major wildfire that ravaged northeastern Minnesota and parts of northwest Wisconsin, devastating Duluth’s industrial waterfront
- Reflects the vulnerability of wooden work vessels to shore-originated fires exacerbated by regional environmental catastrophe
Recommended Research Avenues
- Local newspapers (Oct 1918): Duluth News Tribune or Duluth Herald likely offer eyewitness reports, fire spread details, and recovery efforts
- Cloquet Fire Postmortems: Official reports or state archives on the disaster may provide insights on dock infrastructure loss
- Company Records/Insurance Files: Northern Dock & Dredge Co. archives might hold vessel valuations, insurance loss assessments, and industrial damage logs