Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: P.H. Birckhead
- Type: Screw steamer (wooden-hulled)
- Year Built: 1870
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: ~495 gross tons
- Location: Alpena, Lake Huron, Michigan
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A steam-powered cargo vessel, designed for regional Great Lakes trade. The Birckhead was used in lighter towing and coastal freight runs—common for wooden screw steamers of the era.
Description
The P.H. Birckhead was a 495-ton screw steamer built in 1870, lost to catastrophic fire while docked in Alpena during a repair stop on 30 September 1905. Efforts to extinguish the blaze were not successful, and she was left a total loss. No crew fatalities occurred, and no submerged wreck remains have been documented.
History
- Prior Day (29 Sept 1905): Towed into Alpena by tug John Owen, transporting a faulty steamer to port for repairs. A broken cylinder head had impaired operations.
- That Night: While anchored near the Minor Lumber dock, a fire broke out in the P.H. Birckhead’s holds. With no loss of life, her crew abandoned ship as the blaze intensified.
- Disposition: The vessel burned down to the waterline and was declared a total loss. (Wikipedia, Friends of Thunder Bay, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Significant Incidents
- Fire broke out in the holds while docked, leading to total loss.
Final Disposition
No records indicate the remains were salvaged post-fire; the hulk likely sank at or near the dock. No known maritime notifications (e.g., NOTMAR) were issued; this was a local harbour incident.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is not documented to have any remains accessible for diving or exploration.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”p-h-birckhead-1870″ title=”References & Links”]
Keywords / Tags: screw steamer, fire loss, Alpena MI, 1905 shipwreck, Lake Huron, wooden steamship, maritime incident
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
- Name: P.H. Birckhead
- Year Built: 1870
- Type: Screw steamer (wooden-hulled)
- Tonnage: ~495 gross tons
- Final Location: Alpena, Lake Huron, Michigan
- Date Lost: 30 September 1905
- Cause of Loss: Fire while docked after maintenance
Vessel Type
A steam-powered cargo vessel, designed for regional Great Lakes trade. The Birckhead was used in lighter towing and coastal freight runs—common for wooden screw steamers of the era.
History & Final Voyage
- Prior Day (29 Sept 1905): Towed into Alpena by tug John Owen, transporting a faulty steamer to port for repairs. A broken cylinder head had impaired operations.
- That Night: While anchored near the Minor Lumber dock, a fire broke out in the P.H. Birckhead’s holds. With no loss of life, her crew abandoned ship as the blaze intensified.
- Disposition: The vessel burned down to the waterline and was declared a total loss. (Wikipedia, Friends of Thunder Bay, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Condition & Remains
No records indicate the remains were salvaged post-fire; the hulk likely sank at or near the dock. No known maritime notifications (e.g., NOTMAR) were issued; this was a local harbour incident.
Resources & Links
- List of shipwrecks in 1905 (Wikipedia) — verifies date, tonnage, location & outcome (Wikipedia)
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files — detailed incident overview and timeline (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Conclusion
The P.H. Birckhead was a 495‑ton screw steamer built in 1870, lost to catastrophic fire while docked in Alpena during a repair stop on 30 September 1905. Efforts to extinguish the blaze were not successful, and she was left a total loss. No crew fatalities occurred, and no submerged wreck remains have been documented.
Keywords / Tags: screw steamer, fire loss, Alpena MI, 1905 shipwreck, Lake Huron, wooden steamship, maritime incident
p-h-birckhead-1870 1905-09-30 23:40:00