The tiles on this marker present an illustration of the wooden steam barge LANGELL BOYS underway in Georgian Bay, Ontario to pick up a load of lumber for delivery to Michigan sawmills. The 151 FT. LANGELL BOYS was one of the last boats built in the Langell Shipyard. Launched in 1890, she carried lumber throughout her 41-year sailing career. Lumber was put into the ship’s hold but also piled as high as possible on the deck. This sometimes created a top heavy boat that struggled in storms. In 1898, the LANGELL BOYS lost 100,000 feet of deck load in a storm off Racine, Wisconsin. In 1907, under ownership of Mershon, Eddy, Parker Co., it had a dark red hull, white trim, white houses, Black stack and known as the “Little Red Barn.” On June 13, 1931, the LANGELL BOYS caught fire six miles off AuSable, Michigan, drifted and sank in 18 feet of water two miles off the AuSable pierhead. The crew of 12 was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard.  

Vessel Name: LANGELL BOYS

Official Number: 141067

Rig: Propeller

Vessel Length: 151.00 feet

Vessel Width: 30.00 feet

Vessel Depth: 11.16 feet

Gross Tonnage: 387.44

Net Tonnage: 286.13

Hull Material: Wood

Builder: Simon Langell

Notes: 

1890 – launched

1890 – July 17, enrolled Port Huron, MI

1891 – towed J.W. HANAFORD & JOHNSON

1892 – April 19, Owned F.W. Bradley et al, Bay City, MI; towed J.B. COMSTOCK

1893 – valued by Inland Lloyds at $46,000

1898 – lost 100,000 feet of deck load in storm off Racine, WI

1900 – April 20, owned John w. Ritchie et al, Bay City, MI

1904 – owned Charles A. Eddy et al, Bay City, MI

1907 – Owned Mershon, Eddy, Parker Co., Saginaw, MI. Under Marshon’s ownership it had a dark red hull, white trim, white houses, Black stack and known as the “Little Red Barn”.

1912 – Owned Carrolton Steamship co., Carrolton, MI

1921 – rebuilt by Sidney McLouth yard, Marine City, MI; lengthened, bustled, newhouses fore & aft (156.6’ long, 33.8’ wide, 10.6’ deep; gross tonnage 467,57; 1 deck, 2 masts. Used mostly in the rough lumber trade from Georgian Bay to finishing mill at Carrollton, usually towing

schooner C.J. FILLMORE.

1927 – Locked in ice 30 to 35 miles from Bay City for 67 days, 20 miles from shore.

1931 – June 13, caught fire six miles off Au Sable, MI, Lake Huron; drifted and sank two miles off Au Sable pierhead in eighteen feet of water. Crew of twelve rescued by U.S.C.G.

1931 – June 17, enrollment surrendered, Port Huron, MI

Great Lakes Maritime Database and photo archives, Great Lakes Maritime Collection, Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library. “Shipbuilding in St. Clair,” Research Binder, Ships File Cabinet, St. Clair Historical Museum and Research Center archives.