Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: W.H. Ritchie
- Type: Wooden Steamer
- Year Built: 1880
- Builder: D. Robertson
- Dimensions: 161.2 ft (49.1 m) × 30.4 ft × 10.7 ft depth
- Registered Tonnage: 447 gt / 342 nt
- Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
- Official Number: U.S. 115729; Canadian C130432
- Original Owners: F.W. Gilchrist, J.S. Dunham, Gilchrist Lumber Co., Merida Steamship Co., Grant Horne, Davidson Grain Co.
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden steamer built in 1880, primarily used for cargo transport across Great Lakes ports.
Description
The W.H. Ritchie was a wooden steamer constructed in Grand Haven, Michigan, featuring a steeple-compound engine that was rebuilt in 1889. It was registered under U.S. number 115729 and later under Canadian registry C130432 after its renaming in 1912.
History
The vessel had a varied ownership history, including F.W. Gilchrist and the Gilchrist Lumber Co. It was later owned by the Merida Steamship Co. and transferred to Canadian registry in 1912. The ship was involved in cargo routes throughout the Great Lakes during its operational years.
Significant Incidents
- 1880: Launched and began service.
- 1889: Engine rebuilt by S.F. Hodge in Detroit.
- 1912: Renamed W.H. Ritchie upon Canadian registry transfer.
- 1921: Burned on September 28 at Fort William, marking the end of its service.
Final Disposition
The W.H. Ritchie was destroyed by fire in 1921, and its remains now lie within the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, recognized for its historical significance.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is located within the Canadian side of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and is documented through NOAA site surveys. It is recognized as part of the sanctuary’s steam-era site themes.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”w-h-ritchie-c-130432-ritchie-us-115729″ title=”References & Links”]
The W.H. Ritchie serves as a significant heritage site for divers, offering insights into the maritime history of the Great Lakes and the evolution of steam-powered vessels.
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.
Wooden Steamer, 1880 – Thunder Bay ON Graveyard Wreck
Registry & Technical Specifications
- Built: 1880 at Grand Haven, MI by D. Robertson
- Official Numbers: U.S. 115729; after 1912 Canadian registry C130432 (renamed W. H. Ritchie)
- Dimensions: 161.2 ft L × 30.4 ft W × 10.7 ft depth, 447 gt / 342 nt
- Engine: Steeple-compound (rebuilt in 1889 by S. F. Hodge, Detroit)
- Ownership Timeline:
- F. W. Gilchrist, Alpena
- J. S. Dunham, Chicago
- Gilchrist Lumber Co., Alpena
- Merida Steamship Co., Cleveland
- Purchased by Canadian registry in 1912 under Grant Horne, then Davidson Grain Co. (libraries.udmercy.edu)
Sanctuary Context & Wreck Position
- Located just within the Canadian side of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, documented with NOAA site surveys (naval encyclopedia)
- Recognized historically as part of the Sanctuary’s steam-era site themes
Archive Newspaper Search Preparation
Suggested search queries for Newspapers.com, Grand Haven Press, and Alpena Argus:
- 1880 Launch & Service: “Ritchie” steamer Grand Haven built 1880
- Shift to Canadian Registry (1912): “W. H. Ritchie” renamed 1912 Canadian registry
- Final Fate (Burned 1921): “Ritchie” burned September 28 1921 Fort William
These may yield career milestones and loss incident coverage.
Underwater Site Data
I’ll request from NOAA’s Thunder Bay NMS:
- Dive logs, ROV/video records, site charts, and hull preservation data
This will help assess the wreck’s current archaeological condition.
Narrative Flow — “The Story Is Told”
Your documentary script can chronicle:
- Construction in Grand Haven (1880) underwood shipbuilding tradition
- Operational era—cargo routes through Great Lakes ports
- Engine rebuild (1889) and subsequent structural updates
- Registry transfer to Canada (1912) and renaming reflective of new ownership
- Final destruction by fire (1921) at Fort William—end of her service life
- Present resting site within Thunder Bay Sanctuary, preserved for heritage diving
What’s Next for Ritchie
- Retrieve the full U.S. registry documentation
- Draft and run archival article searches for launch, renaming, and fire
- Obtain NOAA wreck-site documentation
- Open avenues to integrate wreck images/maps into draft narrative