SS Henry Chisholm facts for kids
class="infobox " style="float: right; clear: right; width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;"
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em;" | 
|}
The Henry Chisholm was a large wooden ship built to carry cargo. It was called a "freighter." In 1898, this ship sank near Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior. Its remains are still at the bottom of the lake today. In 1984, the wreck was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
History of the Henry Chisholm
The steamer Henry Chisholmat the Northwest Coal Dock in Duluth, Minnesota
The Henry Chisholm was built in 1880. It was made by Thomas Quayle & Sons in Cleveland, Ohio. This company was known for building the best wooden ships on the Great Lakes. The ship was 265 feet long, about the length of a football field. It was 39 feet wide and 20 feet deep.
The Chisholm was powered by a steam engine. This engine had two large boilers and could produce 1707 horsepower. It used a single propeller to move through the water. The ship's hull was strengthened with steel and iron straps. This made it very strong for a wooden ship. It was the biggest wooden "steam barge" ever built in Cleveland. Building the ship cost $125,999. It was launched on August 28, 1880.
The ship was built for Alva Bradley, a man from Cleveland. It was named after Henry Chisholm, who helped start the steel industry in Cleveland. The Henry Chisholm sailed on the Great Lakes from 1880 until 1898. It often carried huge amounts of cargo. Sometimes, it even pulled several other barges behind it.
The Shipwreck of the Chisholm
On October 16, 1898, the Chisholm left Duluth, Minnesota. It was heading to Buffalo, New York. The ship was carrying 92,000 bushels of barley. It was also towing another ship, the 220-foot schooner John Martin.
The next day, a big storm hit. The tow rope connecting the Chisholm to the Martin broke. After the storm calmed down, the Chisholm spent a few days looking for the Martin. On October 20, 1898, the Chisholm hit a hidden reef. This happened near the Rock of Ages Light as it tried to enter Washington Harbor.
The captain saw that the ship was too damaged to float again. He decided to leave the ship. Some crew members went to Victoria Harbor to get help. The rest of the crew went to Washington Harbor. Later, the John Martin was found. It was mostly fine and sailing on its own.
People tried to save the Chisholm right away. But a week later, more storms came. The ship broke apart and sank. In 1901, the ship's large boilers were saved. However, by then the engine had slid deeper into the water. The Chisholm wreck stayed mostly untouched for many years. Sport divers rediscovered it in the 1960s.
The Chisholm Wreck Today
The wreck of the Henry Chisholm lies in water that is 80 to 150 feet deep. It rests on its side. Some parts of its wooden hull are mixed with the wreckage of another ship. This other ship was the Cumberland, which sank earlier in 1877. The back part of the Chisholm (the stern) is broken off. It sits some distance away from the main wreck.
The ship's steam engine, drive shaft, and propeller are still in the stern section. They stand upright at a depth of 120 to 150 feet. The steam engine is 20 feet tall. It is in very good condition. Divers can easily see and reach it through the broken stern. In 2009, about 75 dives were made to the Chisholm. This was out of 1062 dives made to all wrecks in the Isle Royale National Park that year.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States |
|
| Name | Henry Chisholm |
| Builder | Thomas Quayle & Sons |
| Launched | August 28, 1880 |
| Out of service | 1898 |
| Fate | Sunk off the shore of Isle Royale in Lake Superior |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | wooden freighter |
| Length | 265 feet |
| Beam | 39 feet |
| Depth | 20 feet |
| Installed power | 1707 HP |
| Propulsion | double expansion steam engine |
| Notes | Official number 95610 |
|
HENRY CHISHOLM
|
|
Diving the wreckage
|
|
 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Near Rock of Ages Light, Isle Royale National Park, Michigan |
| Area | 206.6 acres (83.6 ha) |
| Built | 1880 |
| Architect | Thomas Quayle & Sons; John Drackett |
| Architectural style | Freighter |
| MPS | Shipwrecks of Isle Royale National Park TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001752 |
| Added to NRHP | June 14, 1984 |
