The meaning of the design;  The Name board is a nautical design seen on vessels on the great lakes   in photos in the 1860s  example image of the J.H. Jones and many other vessels to present day some in the numerous wrecks  and  used on vessels on the bow sometime proudly on top of the wheelhouse.

 The top center of the sign is a likeness of a Canaler which many of the founding members knew well and many worked on. These vessels were 260 feet long which was the maximum size that could fit in the lock on the St. Lawrence River  canal system before the building opening of the newly built St. Lawrence seaway in 1959.   During the second World War over 300 of these vessels served deep sea and coastal trade, a number were lost  by German U boats (submarines).

It should be known that the bell in the center of the Propeller club was from Canaler.

Most important is that the Propeller at the front of the club is from a Canaler .

The canaler or boat on the sign is modeled after two sister vessels owned by Upper Lakes and St. Lawrence transportation company  later known as  Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd.

Brown Beaver and the Grey Beaver.

R. Lee 

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