Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Nahant
  • Former Names: None
  • Official Number: 18766
  • Date Built & Launched: 1873, constructed by F. Jones in Detroit, Michigan (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
  • Measurements: 213 ft × 35 ft × 16 ft (65 m × 11 m × 4.9 m); 1,204 gross tons, 1,038 net tons 
  • Type: Wooden propeller-driven freighter with capacity for both packaged goods and bulk freight (iron ore) (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
  • Cargo at Loss: Iron ore
  • Date Lost: 29 November 1897 (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
  • Place of Loss: Loading at Chicago & North Western Ore Dock No. 4, Escanaba, Michigan—Little Bay de Noc, Lake Michigan (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
  • Circumstance: She caught fire while loading ore; the blaze destroyed both the vessel and the dock. The fire occurred on a frigid night with sub-zero temperatures, hampering firefighting efforts. The Nahant burned to the waterline and sank, resulting in the loss of approximately two crewmen. (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)

Vessel Type

A mid-1870s wooden propeller freighter designed for short-haul heavy bulk freight—particularly iron ore—on the Great Lakes, equipped for cargo efficiency at regional ore docks.

Description

The Nahant was 213 ft long with a beam of 35 ft and a depth of 16 ft, displacing just over 1,200 gross tons. As a wooden screw Steamer built in Detroit in 1873, she exemplified a transitional freighter type—large enough for ore yet compact compared to later steel freighters.

History

Built specifically to serve Upper Peninsula iron ore docks, Nahant carried ore shipments across Lake Michigan from Escanaba and Marquette to steel-making ports. On 29 November 1897, while loading iron ore at Escanaba’s Ore Dock No. 4 on Little Bay de Noc, the vessel caught fire. Despite extreme cold and a concurrent dock fire, firefighting attempts proved futile. The ship burned to the waterline, sank with her Stern at the dock’s edge, and took approximately two crew members with her. (en.wikipedia.org)

Final Disposition

The Nahant was destroyed by fire and sank at the loading dock. Her Stern remains reportedly visible near a shoreline dropoff. The dock itself was also completely destroyed, and operations ceased at that berth. 

Located By & Date Found

The wreck has not been formally surveyed, but local reports and dive information indicate remains lie at the foot of the former ore dock—potential remnants visible in shallow water near the shoreline. (divebuddy.com)

Notations & Advisories

The remains are close to shore and may still be partially visible or hazardous in shallow waters. No official navigational hazards or dive advisories are listed. Local dive groups note submerged wreckage near the dock’s drop-off edge. 

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Nahant was a substantial wooden freighter lost dramatically during loading operations when fire swept through the vessel and ore dock. The tragedy highlighted fire risks at ore-handling sites and added urgency to dock safety protocols. Though over a century old, her remains—visible to local divers—offer a poignant reminder of industrial-era hazards and the vulnerability of wooden steam vessels.

Keywords & Glossary Terms: wooden steam freighter, ore dock fire, Escanaba wreck, Propeller Steamer, 19th-century industrial shipping

Categories: Great Lakes shipwrecks | Lake Michigan ore freighters | fire losses | Escanaba maritime history