Log‑Tug Derelicts, Fall Lake (Ely, MN)
Identification & Background
Two small wooden screw tugs, Nellie J. and Mertie J., were operated by the Horn & Jeffery Tug service of Ely, Minnesota. They served primarily in log‑rafting operations for the Swallow‑Hopkins Lumber Company on Fall Lake and linked waters in the early 20th century.
Operational History
- Both tugs towed log rafts and supported logging operations around Fall Lake, adjacent to Basswood Lake, serving the hardwood operations of Swallow‑Hopkins Lumber in the Ely region.
- They were typical of lake logging support craft—designed to be robust, maneuverable, and deployable in remote waters.
Final Disposition
Mertie J.:
- Removed from shore and dragged into deeper water of Fall Lake.
- Intentionally allowed to sink and remain underwater in deeper basin zones.
- According to Mr. Lee Brownell (longtime Ely resident & historical researcher), Mertie J. remains submerged in Fall Lake while Nellie J. was dismantled and dispersed.
Credibility & Source
- Oral testimony from Lee Brownell, of the Ely‑Winton Historical Society, reports first-hand familial recollections—his father served as U.S. Forest Service Supervisor, Superior National Forest, during World War I.
- No registry data or official logs exist documenting disposal; instead, these are placed within local logging history and informal vessel retirement practices.
Summary Table
| Vessel | Type | Fate on Fall Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Nellie J. | Log‑Tug (wood screw) | Cannibalized; hulled out onshore |
| Mertie J. | Log‑Tug | Dragged to deep water and sunk |
Significance & Context
- Reflects informal retirement practices for small and expendable support vessels used in the remote resource-extraction zones.
- Illustrates local craft lifecycles: equipment reuse, deliberate sinking, and the fading of small working boats without official marine documentation.
- Offers potential targets for underwater archaeological surveying, especially of Mertie J.—if sonar or diver records are taken.
Recommendations for Further Investigation
- Interview with Lee Brownell or Ely‑Winton Historical Society
- To gather additional details: approximate locations, images, or exact coordinates.
- Local newspaper searches (1900–1930) for logging or lake clearance reports.
- DNR or Minnesota Heritage Center archives for forestry and logging vessel records.
- Underwater reconnaissance in Fall Lake to identify any artifacts or timber remains associated with Mertie J..
- Comparative research on Horn & Jeffery Tug fleet in lumber archives or Port Arthur / Ely location histories.