1910 Grand Trunk Elevator Depot Harbor Parry Sound Georgian Bay Ontario postcard | #3874008807
1910 Grand Trunk Elevator Depot Harbor Parry Sound Georgian Bay Ontario postcard | #3874008807

Identification & Site Information

Vessel Type

Wooden Steamer(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Description

The ALEXANDER MAITLAND was a wooden Steamer constructed in 1902. Details regarding her dimensions and tonnage are not readily available. As a steam-powered vessel, she was part of the fleet navigating the Great Lakes during the early 20th century, primarily engaged in bulk cargo transport.

History

On December 9, 1924, while docked at the Grand Trunk Elevator in Port Huron, Michigan, the ALEXANDER MAITLAND caught fire. The fire resulted in a reported Total Loss of the vessel. At the time, she was owned by Jenkins Transportation Co. of Cleveland. Following the incident, the vessel was surrendered to underwriters and subsequently sold. She was recovered and Rebuilt as the Canadian Barge GLENBOGIE (C#152645) and remained in service until being scrapped in 1966. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Legal proceedings following the fire indicate that the cargo underwriters took possession of the barley cargo for the benefit of whom it might concern. On December 13, 1924, the cargo was sold to James Richardson Sons, Limited, of Toronto, Canada, and the Donahue-Stratton Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The sale was conducted under a bill of sale that specified the cargo was sold “as and where it now lies in the Barge Alexander Maitland at Port Huron, Mich.” The purchasers agreed to bear all expenses related to unloading and taking possession of the cargo, including moving the vessel to a mooring place within the harbor. (CaseMine)

Final Disposition

Declared a Total Loss due to fire, the ALEXANDER MAITLAND was surrendered to underwriters and sold. She was recovered and Rebuilt as the Canadian Barge GLENBOGIE (C#152645), which remained in service until being scrapped in 1966. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Located By & Date Found

Nil – The vessel was recovered and Rebuilt; thus, no wreck remains to be located.(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil – No current navigational warnings or official markers exist for the former site.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The ALEXANDER MAITLAND’s loss underscores the risks associated with early 20th-century maritime operations, particularly the vulnerability of wooden steamers to fire. The vessel’s subsequent recovery and Conversion into the Barge GLENBOGIE highlight the practices of salvaging and repurposing maritime assets during that era.(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Suggested Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

  • Keywords: ALEXANDER MAITLAND, Port Huron ship fire, Grand Trunk Elevator, Jenkins Transportation Co., GLENBOGIE
  • Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Maritime Disasters, Wooden Steamers
  • Glossary Terms:
    • Steamer: A steam-powered vessel used for transporting goods or passengers.
    • Underwriters: Insurance entities that assume financial risk for maritime ventures.
    • Barge: A flat-bottomed vessel, typically used for transporting cargo in inland waterways.

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