Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: W.H. Simons
- Type: Wooden barge (likely scow or construction barge)
- Year Built: 1919
- Builder: Kingston, New York
- Dimensions: Length 114 ft (34.7 m); Beam 30 ft; Depth of hold 13 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 471 tons gross and net
- Location: Offshore Lake Huron, southwest of Thunder Bay Island, near Alpena, Michigan
- Official Number: 167781
- Original Owners: New York Scow Corp., New York City
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type & Construction
- Classification: Wooden scow/barge used in non-self–propelled capacities (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Built: 1919, Kingston, New York (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Dimensions: Length: 114 ft; Beam: 30 ft; Depth: 13 ft; Tonnage: 471 tons gross and net (Facebook, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Owner at Loss: New York Scow Corp., New York City (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Description
Description
The W.H. Simons was a wooden barge classified as a scow, primarily used for non-self-propelled operations. It was built in 1919 in Kingston, New York, and had dimensions of 114 feet in length, 30 feet in beam, and a depth of 13 feet, with a registered tonnage of 471 tons gross and net.
History
Operational History
- 1919–1933: Likely used for lighterage, dredging support, or transporting bulk materials on Lake Huron, given its classification and ownership.
Significant Incidents
Final Voyage & Loss
- Event: Destroyed by an offshore fire. The vessel was lost due to fire, with no detailed records of cargo at the time. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Casualties: No recorded information on loss of life; presumed none.
- Property Loss: No stated value, but total loss of the barge was indicated; insurance status undocumented.
Final Disposition
Salvage & On-site Condition
- Salvage: No documented salvage or recovery efforts following the fire; presumed destroyed and abandoned in place.
- Current Condition: Likely severely burned wooden remains, possibly collapsed or partially submerged, depending on fire intensity and post-loss exposure.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Summary at a Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | W.H. Simons |
| Official No. | 167781 |
| Type | Wooden barge/scow |
| Built | 1919, Kingston, NY |
| Owner | New York Scow Corp., NYC |
| Dimensions | 114 × 30 × 13 ft; 471 tons gross/net |
| Loss Date | September 16, 1933 |
| Loss Location | Offshore Lake Huron, SW Thunder Bay Isl., near Alpena, MI |
| Cause | Destroyed by offshore fire |
| Casualties | None reported |
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”w-h-simons-us-167781″ title=”References & Links”]
The W.H. Simons was a 1919 wooden scow/barge of 471 gross tons, destroyed by offshore fire on 16 September 1933 in Lake Huron near Thunder Bay Island. Built in Kingston, NY, and owned by New York Scow Corp., the vessel likely supported auxiliary marine operations until its demise. Although registry records provide basic specifications and loss cause, significant details remain unknown. Newspaper archives, insurance files, and Coast Guard records could yield richer insights. Additionally, modern dive surveys — if any exist — may help locate and assess the remains for historical preservation or site interpretation.
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
- Vessel Name: W.H. Simons
- Official Number: 167781 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, prezi.com)
- Type: Wooden barge (likely scow or construction barge)
- Loss Date: 16 September 1933
- Loss Location: Offshore Lake Huron, southwest of Thunder Bay Island, near Alpena, Michigan (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Loss Depth: Data not specified; presumed shallow offshore waters.
Vessel Type & Construction
- Classification: Wooden scow/barge used in non-self–propelled capacities (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Built: 1919, Kingston, New York (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Dimensions:
- Length: 114 ft
- Beam: 30 ft
- Depth: 13 ft
- Tonnage: 471 tons gross and net (Facebook, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Owner at Loss: New York Scow Corp., New York City (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Operational History
- 1919–1933: Likely used for lighterage, dredging support, or transporting bulk materials on Lake Huron, given its classification and ownership.
Final Voyage & Loss
- Event: Destroyed by an offshore fire. The vessel was lost due to fire, with no detailed records of cargo at the time. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Casualties: No recorded information on loss of life; presumed none.
- Property Loss: No stated value, but total loss of the barge was indicated; insurance status undocumented.
Salvage & On-site Condition
- Salvage: No documented salvage or recovery efforts following the fire; presumed destroyed and abandoned in place.
- Current Condition: Likely severely burned wooden remains, possibly collapsed or partially submerged, depending on fire intensity and post-loss exposure.
Summary at a Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | W.H. Simons |
| Official No. | 167781 |
| Type | Wooden barge/scow |
| Built | 1919, Kingston, NY |
| Owner | New York Scow Corp., NYC |
| Dimensions | 114 × 30 × 13 ft; 471 tons gross/net |
| Loss Date | September 16, 1933 |
| Loss Location | Offshore Lake Huron, SW Thunder Bay Isl., near Alpena, MI |
| Cause | Destroyed by offshore fire |
| Casualties | None reported |
Research Sources
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (WordPress): Provided core vessel registry, build details, ownership, and fire-loss event ﹣ Official no. 167781, built 1919, dimensions, fire loss off Thunder Bay Island on Sept. 16, 1933 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, historical list: A 2006 PDF included William H. Simons 1933 among listed wrecks in Lake Huron (nmsthunderbay.blob.core.windows.net)
Research Gaps & Recommendations
- Contemporary Newspaper Coverage: Seek local Michigan and maritime news (Alpena, Detroit, Chicago) around mid-September 1933 for fire incident reports.
- Insurance Records: Investigate New York Scow Corp. archives or marine insurers for coverage or claim documentation.
- Coast Guard/USCG Records: Fire incidents offshore may have generated Coast Guard incident files or marine casualty reports.
- Dive & Survey Logs: Check Alpena dive clubs or NOAA/Thunder Bay Sanctuary for survey data or site imagery.
- Wreck Coordinates: Determine precise coordinates via historical charting or side-scan sonar surveys.
Conclusion
The W.H. Simons was a 1919 wooden scow/barge of 471 gross tons, destroyed by offshore fire on 16 Sept 1933 in Lake Huron near Thunder Bay Island. Built in Kingston, NY, and owned by New York Scow Corp., the vessel likely supported auxiliary marine operations until its demise. Although registry records provide basic specifications and loss cause, significant details remain unknown. Newspaper archives, insurance files, and Coast Guard records could yield richer insights. Additionally, modern dive surveys — if any exist — may help locate and assess the remains for historical preservation or site interpretation.
w-h-simons-us-167781 1933-09-16 12:50:00