Identification & Site Information
- Name: P.H. Birckhead
- Year Built: 1870
- Type: Screw Steamer (wooden-hulled)
- Tonnage: ~495 gross tons
- Final Location: Alpena, Lake Huron, Michigan
- Date Lost: 30 September 1905
- Cause of Loss: Fire while docked after maintenance
Vessel Type
A steam-powered cargo vessel, designed for regional Great Lakes trade. The Birckhead was used in Lighter towing and coastal freight runs—common for wooden screw steamers of the era.
History & Final Voyage
- Prior Day (29 Sept 1905): Towed into Alpena by Tug John Owen, transporting a faulty Steamer to port for repairs. A broken cylinder head had impaired operations.
- That Night: While anchored near the Minor Lumber dock, a fire broke out in the P.H. Birckhead’s holds. With no loss of life, her crew Abandoned ship as the blaze intensified.
- Disposition: The vessel burned down to the waterline and was declared a Total Loss. (Wikipedia, Friends of Thunder Bay, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Condition & Remains
No records indicate the remains were salvaged post-fire; the hulk likely sank at or near the dock. No known maritime notifications (e.g., NOTMAR) were issued; this was a local harbour incident.
Resources & Links
- List of shipwrecks in 1905 (Wikipedia) — verifies date, tonnage, location & outcome (Wikipedia)
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files — detailed incident overview and timeline (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Conclusion
The P.H. Birckhead was a 495‑ton screw Steamer built in 1870, lost to catastrophic fire while docked in Alpena during a repair stop on 30 September 1905. Efforts to extinguish the blaze were not successful, and she was left a Total Loss. No crew fatalities occurred, and no submerged wreck remains have been documented.
Keywords / Tags: screw Steamer, fire loss, Alpena MI, 1905 shipwreck, Lake Huron, wooden Steamship, maritime incident