LINDEN (Built 1895 – Lost 28 November 1923)

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Linden
  • Official Number: C141667 (US #141370)
  • Built: 1895 by Jenks Shipbuilding, Port Huron, Michigan (Hull #10)
  • Type: Wooden propeller bulk freighter
  • Dimensions: 62.8 m × 10.4 m × 4.3 m (206 × 34 × 14 ft); Gross Tonnage 894 gt, Net 708 nt
  • Date Lost: 28 November 1923
  • Loss Location: Dock at Tawas City, Michigan, Lake Huron
  • Cargo: Unknown

Vessel Type

A wooden-hulled, propeller-driven bulk freighter used in the early 20th century, suitable for transporting heavy cargoes like grain or stone on Lake Huron.

Description

Built solidly for bulk freight, Linden had a traditional single-Deck wooden Hull with cargo hatch, powered by a steam engine driving a single propeller. Her 34 ft beam and 14 ft depth provided ample hold space.

History

After nearly 30 years of service moving bulk cargo across Lake Huron, Linden was docked at Tawas City on 28 November 1923 when a fire erupted aboard. The blaze consumed her superstructure, and she floated off the dock, drifting into the bay before sinking. Fortunately, no crew fatalities were reported. The wreck remained submerged near the dock until salvaged for scrap in 1930 (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).

Additional note: This vessel should not be confused with earlier ships of the same name lost under different circumstances.

Final Disposition

After sinking, Linden was left on the bay bottom for several years. In 1930, she was raised, and her salvageable materials were removed; her Hull was scrapped.

Located By & Date Found

The sinking was witnessed at dockside in Tawas City in 1923. No underwater rediscovery was required, as the ship was hoisted and dismantled by 1930.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No Notices to Mariners have been issued for the wreck site. Since Linden was removed, it poses no navigational hazard.

Resources & Links

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – entry for Linden

Conclusion

Linden represents early 20th-century wooden propeller freighters, working through the post‑steam boom era. Her end by shipboard fire while docked at Tawas City is a reminder of the vulnerability of wooden vessels to onboard conflagrations. The subsequent salvage and scrapping end her physical legacy, leaving her story preserved only in records.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

Wooden propeller freighter, Lake Huron, shipboard fire, dock fire, Tawas City MI, 1923 sinking, salvage, Jenks Shipbuilding, historic Great Lakes vessel.