Ogemaw

Ogemaw                    Built – 1881               177 ft. x 30 ft. x 11 ft.                       The Ogemaw was another lumber hooker built in the Langell Shipyard in St. Clair. She was also built for the Wood, Sperry & Company. Her first captain was H Fish of St. Clair. In her tenth year on the lakes, the Ogemaw sank on Lake Michigan near Big Bay de Noc on Dec. 3, 1891 in 66 ft. of water. She was later raised and put back into service. Exactly 31 years later the Ogemaw burned at Grand Point, Harsens Island, across from the City of Algonac, Michigan.

As you walked south from the “Starting Point” plaque to this location on the St. Clair River Boardwalk, the brass plaque marked Ogemaw on the boardwalk represents the bow of the Great Lakes freighter Ogemaw.  The brass plaque at the Starting Point represents the stern or back of every ship included in this walking tour. By looking back to the starting point, you are able to get an estimate of the size or 177 ft. length of the Ogemaw.

St. Clair, by Charles Homberg, St. Clair Historical Commission, 2007; St. Clair Historical Museum and Research Center archives; Great Lakes Ships data base, Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library, Alpena, Michigan; Great Lakes Freighters by Rand Shackleton, Thunder Bay Press, 2003.