Owen – Lake Huron Tug Shipwreck (1921)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Owen
• Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steam tug
• Year Built: 1881
• Builder: Oades yard, Detroit, Michigan
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Tawas City, MI
• Official Number: 155032
• Original Owners: Registered out of Port Huron; sold to Canadian registry in 1908 (renamed Marion E. Trotter), repurchased as Owen in 1920

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Identity & Build

• Official Number: 155032
• Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steam tug
• Built: 1881, Oades yard, Detroit, Michigan
• Owner in 1921: Registered out of Port Huron; later sold to Canadian registry in 1908 (renamed Marion E. Trotter), then repurchased under the name Owen in 1920
• Purpose: Harbor and river towing duties in the Huron–St. Clair region

Description

Final Incident & Loss – December 6, 1921, Tawas City, MI

• What happened: The Owen caught fire while moored at a public dock in Tawas City, Lake Huron
• Outcome: It burned to a total loss, sinking in place.
• Casualties: None reported — no lives lost

History

Aftermath & Wreck Details

• The fire completely consumed the structure; hull and machinery were destroyed or submerged at dockside
• No salvage attempts are documented; ship’s enrollment was officially surrendered in Port Huron on August 20, 1927, noted as “vessel burned”

Significant Incidents

Historical & Maritime Significance

• Highlights risks of wooden steam tugs tied up in harbor — fire could spread rapidly from engine/machinery spaces
• Illustrates cross-border vessel transfers common in the era (U.S.–Canadian registry shifts)
• Adds context to Great Lakes towboat operations and safety regulations in the early 20th century

Final Disposition

Research & Exploration Opportunities

Investigation Track	Recommended Action
Local Press Archives	Review Tawas Daily Times and Alpena News editions (Dec 1921) for fire investigation coverage and local maritime impact
Dock & Tow Logs	Investigate municipal records or water-side company logs at Tawas City for docking arrangements and fire response coordination
Port Huron Registry Filing	Request original enrollment and surrender documents (July–Aug 1927) to detail vessel’s dimensions, ownership, and valuation
Wreck-Site Survey	Perform remote sensing (side-scan sonar, magnetometer) near the Tawas City dock to locate submerged remnants such as boiler, engine block, or burned framing
Dive Reconnaissance	Consider shallow-water dive to evaluate state of wreckage, appendages, debris field, and potential artifacts

Current Condition & Accessibility

Summary

• Name: Owen (Original build 1881, Detroit; registry changes include Marion E. Trotter c.1908)
• Lost: Dec 6, 1921 – fire-destroyed at Tawas City, MI (Lake Huron); sank at dock
• Casualties: None
• Disposition: Burned to a total loss; later struck from registry
• Significance: A case study in steam-tug vulnerability and early 20th-century towboat history on Lake Huron

Resources & Links

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