Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Tecumseh
- Type: Wooden bulk freighter / propeller steamer
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: Hyslop & Ronald, Chatham, Ontario
- Dimensions: Approx. 213 ft × 29.9 ft × 13.2 ft; 543 GT (gross) with capacity for ~40,000 bushels
- Registered Tonnage: 543 GT
- Location: Goderich Harbour, Ontario
- Official Number: 80774
- Number of Masts: Three masts
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A mid–1870s wooden–hulled bulk freight vessel built with a single screw and auxiliary sail rigging, for transporting grain and other dry bulk goods across the upper Great Lakes and connecting Canadian waters.
Description
The Tecumseh was a wooden bulk freighter designed for the transportation of grain and other dry bulk goods. It featured a single screw propulsion system and auxiliary sails, characteristic of vessels from the mid-19th century.
History
The Tecumseh had a varied service history, including several incidents and repairs. Notably, in August 1874, it salvaged the propeller of the Milwaukee from a depth of 105 feet after 15 years submerged. In 1877, it was repaired after a collision with the schooner Sweetheart near the St Clair River. The vessel went ashore on Manitoulin Island in November 1884 but was repaired and returned to service. In 1897, it collided with and sank the Canadian steamer Lewis Shickluna off Long Point, Lake Erie. The Tecumseh also struck Ripley’s Rock in Marquette harbor, Lake Superior in June 1898, but was salvaged and repaired.
Significant Incidents
- 1874 (Aug): Salvaged the propeller of Milwaukee from 105 ft deep after 15 years submerged—testament to the crew’s diving capabilities.
- 1877: Repaired post-collision with schooner Sweetheart near the St Clair River.
- 1884 (Nov): Went ashore on Manitoulin Island; repaired and returned to service.
- 1897: Collided with and sank Canadian steamer Lewis Shickluna off Long Point, Lake Erie.
- 1898 (Jun): Struck Ripley’s Rock in Marquette harbor, Lake Superior—later salvaged and repaired.
Final Disposition
The Tecumseh was burned to the waterline and abandoned in Goderich Harbour in January 1909. It was subsequently removed by local harbour management by May 1911. Currently, no intact wreck remains.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The Goderich Harbour burning in 1909 is well-documented, yet no underwater wreck remains exist in situ. Debris was likely scrap-recovered or cleared during municipal harbour maintenance.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”tecumseh-us-80774″ title=”References & Links”]
The Tecumseh enjoyed a robust multi-decade career in Canadian-Great Lakes bulk trade, surviving multiple collisions, groundings, and shipyard refits. Her final day came quietly while docked—destroyed by fire, then removed, closing her story in local maritime annals rather than deep-water mystery. A solid example of wooden-screw freighters that bridged sail and steam eras in the Great Lakes.
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: Tecumseh
- Official Number: 80774
- Year Built: 1873
- Built At: Chatham, Ontario (shipbuilder Hyslop & Ronald) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Goderich)
- Type: Wooden bulk freighter / propeller steamer
- Hull: Wood, single deck with three masts and screw propulsion
- Dimensions: Approx. 213 ft × 29.9 ft × 13.2 ft; 543 GT (gross) with capacity for ~40,000 bushels
Vessel Type & Construction
A mid‑1870s wooden‑hulled bulk freight vessel built with a single screw and auxiliary sail rigging, for transporting grain and other dry bulk goods across the upper Great Lakes and connecting Canadian waters.
Selected History & Incidents
- 1874 (Aug): Salvaged the propeller of Milwaukee from 105 ft deep after 15 years submerged—testament to the crew’s diving capabilities .
- 1877: Repaired post‑collision with schooner Sweetheart near the St Clair River .
- 1884 (Nov): Went ashore on Manitoulin Island; repaired and returned to service (Goderich).
- 1897: Collided with and sank Canadian steamer Lewis Shickluna off Long Point, Lake Erie (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- 1898 (Jun): Struck Ripley’s Rock in Marquette harbor, Lake Superior—later salvaged and repaired .
Final Voyages & Wrecks
- 1901 (May 2): Tecumseh “foundered” approximately 9 miles off Gore Bay, Ontario—details sparse but indicates sinking at sea (Goderich).
- 1909 (16 Jan): Final loss by fire while moored for winter in Goderich Harbour, Ontario. The blaze engulfed the moored hull, burning it to a total loss. No lives were lost (Goderich).
- 1911 (May 6): Local authorities ordered wreck removal from Goderich Harbour, finalizing the site’s abandonment in navigational clearance operations .
Final Disposition
Burned to the waterline and abandoned in Goderich Harbour in January 1909; subsequently removed by local harbour management by May 1911. Currently, no intact wreck remains.
Located By & Wreck Status
The Goderich Harbour burning in 1909 is well‑documented, yet no underwater wreck remains exist in situ. Debris was likely scrap‑recovered or cleared during municipal harbour maintenance.
Notmars & Harbor Advisories
No Notices to Mariners issued. The wreck posed no ongoing navigational hazard after its removal.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – Detailed record pages under “Tecumseh” and harbors in Ontario (Goderich)
- Relevant archival materials from Goderich town records and the Huron County archives regarding harbor cleanup (1909–1911).
Conclusion
The Tecumseh enjoyed a robust multi-decade career in Canadian‑Great Lakes bulk trade, surviving multiple collisions, groundings, and shipyard refits. Her final day came quietly while docked—destroyed by fire, then removed, closing her story in local maritime annals rather than deep‑water mystery. A solid example of wooden‑screw freighters that bridged sail and steam eras in the Great Lakes.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Keywords: Tecumseh, Chatham freighter, Goderich fire, Gore Bay foundering, grain transport, wooden propeller
- Categories: Wooden bulk freighters, Canadian Great Lakes shipping, propeller-steam vessels, harbor fire losses
- Glossary:
- Foundered: Taken on water and sank at sea.
- Gross Tonnage: A measure of a ship’s internal volume.
- Harbor removal: Official dismantling or towing of wrecks to clear navigational channels.