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Daniel J Morrell Artifact
Daniel J Morrell Artifact
S.S. Daniel J. Morrell
On the night of Nov 29 1966 the 600 foot American SteamShip Daniel J. Morrell was heading upbound on Lake Huron. When she Broke up in two (about 80 miles west of Kincardine.)
The Bow (or front half of the ship) sank shortly after when crew members boarded a raft. The Stern (or back half of the ship) continued at full speed, later sunk five miles away from the bow. Both ended up being in about 215 of water.
Of the crew of 29 only one crew member survived.
Over the next few months floating remains of the ship and three of her crew washed up along the shore of Bruce County.
After an United States Coast Guard tests and investigation on the Morrell’s sister ship Edward Y. Townsend found both vessels to have had metal fatigue .
Daniel J Morrell Artifact
For many years the wooden Artifact was on display in the hallway entrance, most being unaware of the shipwreck or what the Artifact was.
Stainless steel plate on oak, is split off lengthways. Overall length is 31.5 inches, the wooden underside 5 1/8 inches wide. The Stainless steel covering is 26 inches by 15 inches formed to fit around the wood. The Stainless steel with brass nails has the name “Morrell” in a diamond border around the name in brass nails. Lip also is covered in brass nails.
It is my personal belief that the Artifact is the sill or bottom of a door frame most likely from the wheelhouse or officers' accommodations. It should be noted that underwater images of the wheelhouse show that both doors to be open, therefore it is strongly believed that the Artifact to be from one of the wheelhouse door,
Could have been placed on the door sill to cover wear and decorated by a crew member. or could have been made at the ship yard when the ship was built in 1906. The ship’s name of the Daniel J. Morrell was never changed.
According to Captain Gerald Greig the artifact was found by Al Giles near Goderich, others clam it was found near Oliphant.
Rodney T. Lee Engine Room Rating C D N 107064Z
Upper Lakes Shipping /Algoma Corp 35 years Retired
Chair Wiarton Propeller Club Marine Historical Committee
Wiarton Echo June 1 1967 Vol 88 number 4
The Bell
The Bell
So many meet in the main hall but pay little attention to the bell over their heads.
At closer look at the brass ship’s bell is marked “GLENGELDIE” ,Hull number 1144, launched in 1923 at the Swan, Hunter &Wigham Richardson Limited at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England.
This vessel operated for the Glen Line Ltd. which in 1923 was incorporated by many of the principals involved with the Great Lakes Transportation Company. The new firm was established to operate nine new canal size vessels (Called Canalers) 261 feet long (79.55 meter) 42.5 feet wide (12.95 meter) bulk carrier was registered at 1,906 gross tons.
GLENGELDIE was enrounte from Killarney to Welland, Ont. when she was damaged in a grounding on Georgian Bay October 11 1923 and was repaired at Collingwood.
The ship was then took over by Canada Steamship Lines in 1926 and was renamed the next year to the “ELGIN”.
During the1936 season was used for coal trade from Sydney N.S. to Hamilton. During World War two the ELGIN sailed on the Gulf of St. Lawrence and also that year in the Caribbean bauxite trade. During this time in these very waters a number of other vessels had been torpedoed.
She returned to the Great Lakes untouched by war. In 1962 she tied up in Kingston and was retired After being idle for less than a year, the ELGIN was sold to Stelco and towed to Hamilton, Ont. September 1963 and broken up for Scrap.
It is possible that the two wheels and the propeller at the front of the building could be off this vessel.
A close look I do believe the one wheel closet to the stage is not real.
R. Lee 2023
Sources:
Postwar Ships of Canada Steamship Lines by Skip Gillman
Name sakes 1956-1980 by John O. Greenwood
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