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Drummond Island Tourism Association
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      • Snowmobile Trail Report
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      • Alice C
      • Steamer Two Myrtles
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      • George H Ely
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    • Community
    • DITA Board & Staff
    • Drummond Island Magazine
    • Projects
    • Recreation Plan
    • Contact
  • Events
    • First Annual Drake DePaul #EPIC 5K
    • Annual Lynn & Laura Ice Fishing Tournament
    • Holiday Giving Tree
    • Holiday Lighting Contest
    • Jeep the Mac 2025 >
      • JTM-Schedule
    • SxS Raffle
    • Drummond Island Golf Classic
    • Fall Fest 2024
  • Discover
    • Beaches
    • Eco-based Adventure >
      • Biking
      • Bird Watching
      • Camping
      • Hiking
      • Water Trails >
        • DI Heritage Water Trail
        • Island Explorer H2O Trail
    • Fishing
    • Geocaching
    • Golf >
      • THE ROCK
      • Township Golf Course
      • DI Golf Classic
      • Fling Golf
    • Hunting
    • Off-Roading >
      • ATV & ORV Map
      • ATV and ORV Rentals
      • Drummond Island Off-road Club
      • Drummond Island Adventure Tours
      • Roam Responsibly
    • Parks and Preserves
    • Water Sports
    • Winter Recreation >
      • Snowmobile Trails
      • Snowmobile Trail Report
    • Photography
  • Points of Interest
    • Alvar
    • Corned Beef Junction
    • DeTour Reef Light
    • Dolomite
    • Fossil Ledges
    • Drummond Island Historical Museum
    • Mushrooming
    • Puddingstones
    • Shipping Lanes
    • Unique Land Features >
      • Rare Flora and Fauna
    • Shipwrecks >
      • Alice C
      • Steamer Two Myrtles
      • Steamer Superior
      • Steamer John W Cullen
      • Barge Sainte Marie
      • Tug General
      • George H Ely
      • Barque Monarch
      • Schooner Barge Delaware
      • Steamer JC Ford
      • EJ Laway Jr
      • The Mystery Barge
      • Steamer Agnes W
      • Sunken Crane
      • Schooner John B Merrill
      • Tug Silver Spray
      • Schooner Barge Troy
  • Dining
  • Shopping
  • Lodging
    • Resorts and Cottages
    • Hotels
    • Vacation Rentals and Condos
    • Campgrounds
    • Marina-Dockside Lodging
    • Winter Lodging
  • Services
  • About
    • Getting Here >
      • Drummond Island Airport
      • Drummond Island Ferry
      • Marinas
      • Ice Bridge to/from Canada
    • Drummond Island Webcams
    • Community
    • DITA Board & Staff
    • Drummond Island Magazine
    • Projects
    • Recreation Plan
    • Contact

Steamer J.C. FORD

Picture
​History
The Steamer J. C. FORD was built in Grand Haven, MI in 1889 by Thomas W. Kirby and was initially employed by Mr. Kirby as a bulk freighter, hauling iron ore. Her dimensions were: length, 172 feet; beam, 33 feet; hull depth, 12 feet; and gross tonnage, 520 tons. 

In 1891, the Ford was rebuilt at Grand Haven and converted to a package freighter. A second deck was added, which increased her tonnage to 710 tons.  
 
In 1892, the J. C. FORD was sold to Captain Sidney Scott of Detroit and for a time was employed as part of Captain E. B. Ward’s famous Lake Superior Fleet. 
In 1902, the vessel was again rebuilt, presumably due to another change in service requirements. Her tonnage was reduced to 609 tons.   Finally, the J. C. FORD was sold to Captains W. T. Ramsey and Percy Ramsey of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and employed in the lumber trade. 

On November 26, 1924, the Ford caught fire, burned to the waterline and sank near Little Trout Island (Northwest of Drummond Island). 
 
Final Voyage
While traveling light from Cleveland, Ohio to Thessalon, Ontario, with the schooner barge J. A. FRANCOMB in tow, to pick up a load of lumber, the J. C. FORD ran aground near Little Trout Island, at night, during a sudden and severe snow storm. The Ford had no radio and thus the crew was unable to report their situation and request assistance. Around daybreak, the crew of the U. S. Coast Guard Cutter CHIPPEWA noticed from a distance that a vessel (the J. C. FORD) was on fire near Little Trout Island. 

By the time the CHIPPEWA arrived at the scene, the entire vessel was engulfed in flames and the crew of 9 men and 2 women had gone ashore to Little Trout Island to escape the burning vessel. While attempting to extinguish the flames and rescue the crew, the Cutter CHIPPEWA ran aground and damaged her propeller wheel.   The Coast Guard was unable to save the J. C. FORD, but they did manage to take all her crew safely on board the cutter. Because the cutter was disabled, those crew members were later transferred to another vessel and taken first to DeTour and later to the Sault. The schooner barge consort was not damaged in the incident. The CHIPPEWA had to be towed to Sault Ste. Marie for repairs by another U. S. Coast Guard vessel.  
​     ​
Wreck Description: The wreck lies in 5 to 15 feet of water. The hull is badly broken up, but divers will find this an interesting dive site. The main attraction is a large eight-foot diameter propeller. There are also many small and interesting artifacts present. 

Wreck Location:
The wreck lies in 5 to 15 feet of water a short distance off the westerly shore of Little Trout Island (toward the northern end of the island). 

Lat/Long Coordinates:

Latitude:46º 02.664’ North
Longitude:83º 50.280’ West

Depth: The wreck lies in 5 to 15 feet of water. 
Description
Vessel Information
Name:
J. C. FORD
Rig:
Steamer
Home Port:
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Official Number:
150335 (Canadian)
​Length:
172 Feet
Gross Tons:
609
​Hull Material:
Wood
​Year Built:
1889
Builder:
​Thomas W. Kirby
Place Built:
Grand Haven, MI
Date of Loss:
November 26, 1924
​Cause of Loss:
Burned
Lives Lost:
None
​Cargo:
None
Bound From/To:
To:Cleveland, OH to Thessalon, ON
​Depth:
5-15 Feet
© 2009 Mike Spears and the Drummond Island Tourism Association

Come visit us soon.
Drummond Island Tourism Association
P. O. Box 200
34974 S. Townline Road
Drummond Island, MI 49726

Phone: 906-493-5245
Email: [email protected]

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