Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Munroe, Colin
  • Year built: 1873, Port Stanley, Ontario
  • Official No.: Not provided
  • Type: Wooden screw Tugboat
  • Builder: J. Allison, Port Stanley, ON
  • Original Owner: Elgin Transportation Co.; later owned by individuals such as J. Ellison and Allison & Son
  • Dimensions: 15.9 m (52 ft) length × 3.35 m (11 ft) beam × 1.8 m (6 ft) depth
  • Tonnage: Approx. 40 GT
  • Final loss location: Colpoy’s Bay, near Wiarton, Ontario, Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
  • Loss date: 30 October 1883
  • Loss method: Destroyed by fire down to the waterline
  • Outcome: Vessel destroyed, presumed Total Loss

Vessel Type

A compact wooden screw-powered Tug, used for towing barges and Lighter vessels in harbor and coastal operations, typical of late 19th-century Ontario waterways.

Description

Single-propeller steam Tug with a small Hull, lacking superstructure aside from a work-boat house. Used primarily in harbour assistance, Barge towage, and minor freight tasks.

History & Chronology

  • 1875: Active in Port Stanley Harbor and Lake Erie operations
  • 1878–1879: Ownership held within Port Stanley operators including John Ellison, Allison & Son
  • 23 Nov 1882: Sank at Baby’s Point in the St. Clair River—later raised and returned to service
  • 30 Oct 1883: Burned to the waterline at Colpoy’s Bay—destroyed (no further service)

Final Disposition

The vessel burned completely on 30 October 1883 in Colpoy’s Bay, Lake Huron, and was considered a Total Loss. No salvage actions are recorded post-fire.

Located By & Date Found

No official records indicate salvage or rediscovery of Hull remains. After her destruction, the vessel likely sank or was dismantled near the shoreline.

NOTMARs & Advisories

None. The incident occurred prior to the advent of modern navigation warnings and did not contribute to charted hazards.

Resources & Links

  • Chronology from C. Patrick Labadie and Donald V. Baut collections
  • Registry and incident notes from enrollment records and regional maritime logs

Shore Dive & Archaeological Info

Not applicable. The vessel is presumed destroyed or beached after fire; no wreck remains accessible for diving.

Conclusion

The Munroe, Colin was emblematic of small, versatile wooden steam tugs afloat during the 1870s–1880s on the Great Lakes. After hardship (sinking at Baby’s Point), she returned to service briefly before her life ended in a destructive fire in Colpoy’s Bay. Her legacy remains in registration documents and local logs—marking the hazards these working vessels routinely faced.

Keywords & Glossary

  • Wooden screw Tugboat | Harbor tow vessel | Lake Huron fire loss | 1883 Tug destruction | Port Stanley maritime operations | Coastal steam Tug