Site Identification
- Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario (adjacent to scuttled graveyard)
- Type: Dump scow / clutter Barge
- Estimated Dimensions: 78 ft long × 14.5 ft wide
- Build: Wooden
- Origin: Unknown — no registry or name visible
- Construction Date: Not Determined (n.d.)
Site Details & Condition
- This Hull is relatively intact, with bow and Stern framing intact, providing good structure for mapping.
- Wooden scuppers are evident along the side—common in scows designed to carry dredged material or debris.
- Positioned upright in shallow water; likely scuttled intentionally as part of historical harbor clearance.
Archaeological Observations
- Hull Construction: Mortise-and-tenon plank joints, possibly early 20th century.
- Identifying Details: No Deck structures remain; Hull rib structure suggests mid-1900s construction.
- Evidence of internal charring near midships suggests possible post-scuttling burning—could be linked to harbor removal techniques.
Next-Step Recommendations
- Collect detailed Hull measurements and create CAD models to compare with known local dump scow types.
- Sample wood for dating (dendrochronology) to narrow down construction period.
- Explore municipal dredging logs (1930s–1970s) for records of scow decommissioning events in Thunder Bay.
- Look for embedded hardware (bolts, fittings) that may bear maker’s marks.
- Coordinate with regional archives (e.g., City of Thunder Bay Archives) for vendor or shipyard sale records that match dimensions.
Summary & Significance
These two unregistered, wooden scows represent a neglected segment of maritime history—utility vessels used for local harbor maintenance or dredging operations. Their scuttled graves off Thunder Bay offer an opportunity to study practical working craft of the early-to-mid 20th century, rather than commercial sailing vessels. Though they remain undocumented, disciplined documentation can provide insight into regional industrial practices and the lifecycle of utility hulls.