Identification & Site Information

  • Name(s): J.C. Ford
  • Official Number: 76807
  • Year Built: 1889
  • Final Location: Near Little Trout Island, St. Marys River, Lake Huron
  • Date Lost: 26 November 1924
  • How: Caught fire and was totally destroyed

Vessel Type

Wooden-hulled steambarge, also used for package freight and bulk cargo. A typical multipurpose vessel common to late 19th-century Great Lakes commerce.

Description

  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Decks: Initially 1; Rebuilt in 1891 with 2 decks, later returned to 1
  • Length: 52.4 m (172 ft)
  • Beam: 10.1 m (33 ft)
  • Depth: 3.7 m (12 ft)
  • Gross Tonnage: Originally 520.43, later Rebuilt to 710.57, then reduced to 609.74
  • Net Tonnage: Varied from 407.79 to 597.93 depending on rebuilds
  • Propulsion: Screw, with a for-and-aft compound engine (19″ & 36″ cylinders × 30″ stroke)
  • Boiler: Firebox type, 9′ × 15′, 112 psi, built by Johnson Bros., Ferrysburg, MI
  • horsepower: 410 hp @ 92 rpm (engine by S.F. Hodge, Detroit)

History

  • 1889: Enrolled at Grand Haven, MI; originally built for iron ore service from Escanaba
  • 1891: Rebuilt with two decks and expanded tonnage
  • 1892: Sold to Syd. Scott & partners, based in Mt. Clemens, MI; ran between Duluth and Ogdensburg
  • 1898: Chartered for trade between Milwaukee, WI and St. Joseph, MI
  • 1900: Ownership transferred to Nipigon Transit Co., Grosse Pointe, MI
  • 1902: Rebuilt again to reduce to a single Deck
  • 1922: Sold to Canadian interests
  • 1924: Burned near Little Trout Island in the St. Marys River; declared Total Loss

Final Disposition

Destroyed by fire on 26 November 1924. No loss of life noted. The remains were likely salvaged or left submerged.

Located By & Date Found

No official rediscovery or wreck documentation noted. Wreck not known to be surveyed or dived.

NOTMARs & Advisories

None noted.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The J.C. Ford is a textbook example of a late 19th-century wooden steambarge, demonstrating adaptive reuse through decades of cargo service on the Great Lakes. Though ultimately destroyed by fire, it served over 35 years under multiple owners, reflecting the economic shifts in lake freight. Her loss in the St. Marys River marks the end of a lengthy and varied service life.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

wooden steambarge, iron ore trade, St. Marys River, fire loss, cargo vessel, package freight, Great Lakes commerce, late 19th-century shipbuilding, compound engine, Michigan-built vessels.