Iron‑hulled Propeller Steamer – Lake Huron, Collingwood, Ontario

Identification & Site Information

Vessel Type Description

The Germanic represents the last generation of wood‑clad passenger steamers built at Collingwood, transitioning from wooden to iron and steel Hull construction. She served with Canada Steamship Lines on the Northern route between Lake Huron and Superior, carrying passengers and freight through the Soo Locks to Duluth and Port Arthur (Shipping Today & Yesterday Magazine).

Description

No modern underwater surveys or site documentation are known. As the vessel was destroyed at her berth and subsequently dismantled, no wreck site exists in Lake Huron waters. Her remains were salvaged and later broken up near Collingwood (Wisconsin Shipwrecks).

History & Operational Chronology

  • In 1913 CSL merged the Northern Navigation Co. fleet (owner until 1922), bringing Germanic under the CSL banner while retaining original operations on the Northern route (Detroit/Sarnia–Duluth/Thunder Bay) (Great Lakes Vessel History).
  • On 30 March 1917, while laden in winter lay-up and about to begin seasonal refit, Germanic caught fire at Collingwood harbour. She was towed out of the inner harbour but high northwest winds drove her aground onto the shoreline, where she was consumed by flames (Great Lakes Vessel History).
  • No loss of life was reported, suggesting crew had time to evacuate before the fire overwhelmed the vessel.

Final Disposition

After burning at her winter berth, the Hull was raised in the early 1930s and towed to Wasaga Beach, Ontario, where she was subsequently broken up for scrap (Wikipedia, Great Lakes Vessel History).

Located By & Survey Status

  • Not applicable—wreck was dismantled in situ; no underwater remains. No archaeological site exists.

Notices & Navigational Advisories

  • None noted. No historical navigational warnings or Notices to Mariners have been found referring to the incident.

Gaps & Research Opportunities

  • Crew and ownership logbooks remain undigitized; accessing CSL archives or local Collingwood shipyard records may yield richer detail.
  • Insurance and rebuilding evaluations from 1917 could provide insight on damage assessment and crew handling.
  • Local newspaper coverage (Collingwood and Georgian Bay press) around March–April 1917 might contain eyewitness accounts or technical details of the fire and subsequent owner actions.

Resources & References

  • “Germanic 2 – Great Lakes Vessel History” entry: details of the fire event at Collingwood harbor and eventual breaking up (Great Lakes Vessel History).
  • Collingwood Today (“last of its kind caught fire…1917”): confirms final loss date and destruction at Collingwood (Collingwood Today).
  • Canada Steamship Lines historical context source: describes Germanic as the last wooden passenger ship built at Collingwood and her operation under CSL until destroyed by fire in 1917 (Shipping Today & Yesterday Magazine).

Keywords & Glossary

Canada Steamship Lines, Collingwood shipyard, wooden passenger Steamer, fire loss, 1917, Northern Navigation–CSL, Lake Huron vessel destruction, boiler fit-out fire.

Summary

The Germanic, built at Collingwood in 1899 and later integrated into Canada Steamship Lines, was destroyed by fire on 30 March 1917 during preparations for the new season. The fire consumed the vessel while in her winter berth; she was towed to shore by wind before burning to the waterline. The hulk was subsequently raised in the 1930s and broken up at Wasaga Beach. No casualties were reported, and no physical wreck exists today. The incident marked the end of a once‑common class of wooden passenger steamers on the Great Lakes.