Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Fanny Arnold
- Type: Tug (Towboat)
- Year Built: 1882
- Builder: J. Simpson
- Dimensions: Length 89 ft (27.1 m); Beam 18 ft (5.5 m); Depth of hold 9 ft (2.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 73 gross tons; 50 net tons
- Location: Toronto, Ontario
- Official Number: 85322
- Original Owners: Spanish River Lumber Co., J.P. Porter & Sons Ltd.
- Number of Masts: 1
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Fanny Arnold was a wooden-hulled screw tug built for towing and harbour operations. Tugs of this class were crucial in moving log booms, barges, and assisting larger vessels in the Great Lakes and connecting waterways.
Description
Measuring 27.1 metres (89 feet) in length, with a beam of 5.5 metres (18 feet) and a depth of 2.7 metres (9 feet), the Fanny Arnold registered 73 gross tons and 50 net tons. She was powered by a single-cylinder high-pressure engine of 75 horsepower, with a cylinder measuring 508 mm x 559 mm (20 inches x 22 inches stroke), built by William Kennedy of Owen Sound in 1882. She had a single screw propeller, typical of tugs of her era.
History
The Fanny Arnold was launched in 1882 to serve the Spanish River Lumber Company, performing critical towing operations on Lake Ontario and the upper Great Lakes. During her first decades, she towed timber and supported regional lumber trades. By 1930, she was owned by The Spanish Mills Co. Ltd., Cutler, Ontario.
In 1941, the tug was renamed Tupper Porter under the ownership of J.P. Porter & Sons Ltd. of Montreal. In 1944, she underwent a significant rebuild at Toronto Dry Dock Company Ltd., demonstrating her durability and adaptability for continued service during the wartime and postwar period.
Despite a long working life spanning multiple owners, the vessel saw her final years still actively towing until being retired in 1948.
Significant Incidents
- No significant incidents noted during her service.
Final Disposition
In 1949, the Fanny Arnold (then Tupper Porter) was scrapped in Toronto, Ontario, ending nearly 67 years of service. There are no known remains or underwater wreck sites, as she was fully dismantled.
- Final Location: Toronto, Ontario
- Date: 1949
- How Lost: Scrapped
Current Condition & Accessibility
No wreck exists; the vessel was fully dismantled.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”tupper-porter-arnold-fanny-c-85322″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Fanny Arnold is an important example of 19th-century tugboat construction and Great Lakes workboats, showcasing the longevity and value of wooden tugs. Though dismantled rather than lost at sea, her story adds to the industrial heritage of the region, illustrating nearly seven decades of consistent service.
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(s): FANNY ARNOLD
- Also Known As: TUPPER PORTER
- Year Built: 1882
- Official Number: 85322
- Built At: Owen Sound, Ontario
- Vessel Type: Tug (Towboat)
- Hull Material: Wood
- Number of Decks: 1
- Builder: J. Simpson
- Original Owner: Spanish River Lumber Co., Owen Sound, Ontario
- Ownership Notes: Benjamin W. Arnold, President, Albany, New York
Vessel Type
The Fanny Arnold was a wooden-hulled screw tug built for towing and harbour operations. Tugs of this class were crucial in moving log booms, barges, and assisting larger vessels in the Great Lakes and connecting waterways.
Description
Measuring 27.1 metres (89 feet) in length, with a beam of 5.5 metres (18 feet) and a depth of 2.7 metres (9 feet), the Fanny Arnold registered 73 gross tons and 50 net tons. She was powered by a single-cylinder high-pressure engine of 75 horsepower, with a cylinder measuring 508 mm x 559 mm (20 inches x 22 inches stroke), built by William Kennedy of Owen Sound in 1882. She had a single screw propeller, typical of tugs of her era.
History
The Fanny Arnold was launched in 1882 to serve the Spanish River Lumber Company, performing critical towing operations on Lake Ontario and the upper Great Lakes. During her first decades, she towed timber and supported regional lumber trades. By 1930, she was owned by The Spanish Mills Co. Ltd., Cutler, Ontario.
In 1941, the tug was renamed Tupper Porter under the ownership of J.P. Porter & Sons Ltd. of Montreal. In 1944, she underwent a significant rebuild at Toronto Dry Dock Company Ltd., demonstrating her durability and adaptability for continued service during the wartime and postwar period.
Despite a long working life spanning multiple owners, the vessel saw her final years still actively towing until being retired in 1948.
Final Disposition
In 1949, the Fanny Arnold (then Tupper Porter) was scrapped in Toronto, Ontario, ending nearly 67 years of service. There are no known remains or underwater wreck sites, as she was fully dismantled.
- Final Location: Toronto, Ontario
- Date: 1949
- How Lost: Scrapped
Located By & Date Found
No wreck exists; the vessel was fully dismantled.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted, as the vessel was scrapped on land.
Resources & Links
Conclusion
The Fanny Arnold is an important example of 19th-century tugboat construction and Great Lakes workboats, showcasing the longevity and value of wooden tugs. Though dismantled rather than lost at sea, her story adds to the industrial heritage of the region, illustrating nearly seven decades of consistent service.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Tugboat
- Wooden vessel
- Lake Ontario
- Great Lakes shipwreck history
- Scrapped vessels
- Maritime industrial heritage