Identification & Site Information

  • Name: W. J. Martin
  • Year Built: 1905
  • Vessel Type: Likely wooden Tug or small freighter (owner C. C. Martin, Midland, Ontario)
  • Final Disposition: Stranded and burned
  • Date Lost: November 1905 (exact date unspecified)
  • Final Location: Lake Huron (likely near Midland, Ontario region)

Vessel Type

While specific details are lacking, the W. J. Martin was small—likely a wooden Towboat or Tug—common for harbour and inshore work around Midland, Ontario in the early 20th century.

Description

No official dimensions or tonnage found in available records. The vessel served local operations under the ownership of C. C. Martin from Midland.

History & Final Voyage

  • 1905: Built, registered, and operated by C. C. Martin in Midland.
  • November 1905: During a localized storm, the vessel stranded ashore in Lake Huron. Subsequently, the vessel caught fire and was destroyed. No additional specifics are recorded.

Final Disposition

  • Cause: A two-event loss—grounding followed by fire burned the vessel to a total constructive loss.
  • Outcome: Vessel destroyed; likely Hull remained aground and charred until dismantled by weather or scavengers.

Located By & Date Found

No record of wreckage identification, survey, or modern-day location. The vessel was likely dismantled after being stranded or washed away in subsequent seasons.

Notmar & Advisories

No historical notices or marine warnings are recorded concerning the wreck.

Resources & Links

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (C. C. Martin listing)
  • C. Patrick Labadie Collection (summary under “Martin” entries)
  • Contemporary newspaper reports from Midland or Collingwood (undiscovered)

Conclusion

The W. J. Martin illustrates the fate of many early 1900s small wooden vessels on the Great Lakes—conducting local duties until rapidly lost in seasonal weather events. The dual incident of grounding and fire, combined with lack of follow-up records, suggests her end was swift and uneventful by commercial standards. Today, her story persists in local lore and archival bulletins.

Keywords & Categories

  • Keywords: Tug, grounding, fire, Lake Huron, Midland Ontario, Great Lakes loss
  • Categories: early 20th-century tugs, Lake Huron wrecks, Midland maritime history
  • Glossary:
    • Constructive Total Loss: When a vessel is not entirely sunk but damaged beyond economic repair