Identification & Site Information:

  • Name: Josephine Kidd
  • Former Names: None recorded
  • Official Registration Number(s): Not located in currently available documentation
  • Date Built & Launched: 1873
  • Builder: Reported as constructed in Durham, Ontario
  • Measurements: Approx. 31.7 m (104 ft) in length, 6.7 m (22 ft) beam, and 2.7 m (9 ft) depth of hold
  • Gross Tonnage: ~149 tons (Imperial)
  • Date Lost: November 4, 1882
  • Cause: Fire on board
  • Location: Georgian Bay (exact site unspecified in available records)

Vessel Type

The Josephine Kidd was a wooden steam propeller, one of many such vessels operating on the Great Lakes in the late 19th century. These ships were used widely in the regional transport of goods and passengers. Their design combined Paddlewheel-era Hull forms with the relatively new Screw Propulsion system, increasing their utility and efficiency for lake service.

Description

The Josephine Kidd was a modest-sized Steamer, likely used for general cargo and possibly towing. At approximately 31.7 metres (104 feet) in length, she would have served well along coastal and inter-island routes on Georgian Bay. Built in 1873, she reflected mid-Victorian lake shipping practices with a single screw and wooden Hull—common among secondary freight steamers of the period.

History

Operating primarily in Georgian Bay and the eastern upper lakes, the Josephine Kidd was part of a robust fleet that serviced small communities and industry, likely tied to timber, mining, or regional supply chains. On November 4, 1882, while underway on Georgian Bay, the vessel caught fire under unknown circumstances. Fires were a frequent hazard aboard wooden steamers, often exacerbated by engine heat, sparks from stacks, or accidents in cargo.

Despite the Total Loss of the vessel, all crew members were reportedly rescued. The incident contributed to increasing awareness of fire risks aboard steam-powered vessels, particularly as the shipping industry faced rising losses in the 1880s.

Final Disposition

The Josephine Kidd was completely destroyed by fire and presumed to have either sunk or burned to the waterline. No known recovery or salvage occurred. The wreckage was not documented in official surveys that followed, suggesting it may have occurred in open water or remote areas of Georgian Bay.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. No known rediscovery or survey confirmation of the Josephine Kidd wreck has been made to date.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return. No obstruction or hazard markers associated with the Josephine Kidd are noted on Canadian Hydrographic Service charts.

Resources & Links

While detailed information is scarce, several archival databases and references note the loss:

Conclusion

The burning of the Josephine Kidd in 1882 was one of several catastrophic fire incidents on wooden steamers operating on the Great Lakes during the transition to steel and more fire-resistant construction. While the wreck remains undiscovered, it reflects the everyday risks faced by lake mariners and the relatively limited safety technologies available at the time. Her legacy lives on as part of the broader Georgian Bay shipwreck history.

Suggested Keywords & Categories

Keywords: Josephine Kidd, Georgian Bay Shipwrecks, 1882 Great Lakes Fire, Wooden Propeller Steamer, Steamship Incidents, Ontario Maritime History, Lost Vessels Georgian Bay

Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Georgian Bay Maritime Incidents, Steam Era Shipwrecks, 19th Century Lake Vessels

Glossary Terms:

  • Propeller (Prop.): A vessel powered by a screw (propeller) instead of paddlewheels.
  • Gross Tonnage: The internal volume of a vessel’s enclosed spaces.
  • Foundered: A term indicating a ship sank, often suddenly and due to structural failure, fire, or leak.