July 4, 2026
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This summer, volunteers with the Ontario Marine Heritage Committee will undertake a licensed marine archaeological survey of the wreck site of the SS "Erie Belle," a steam tug that exploded in Lake Huron, Nov. 21, 1883.
The survey will help document and better understand an important part of local marine history before natural conditions and time further affect the site. No artifacts will be recovered or removed as part of this work.
Field work may begin as early as the July 4 weekend and continue periodically into August, depending on weather conditions and volunteer availability.
The project is being conducted under a Marine Archaeology Licence issued by the Province of Ontario, and involves qualified volunteers, including archaeologists, divers, and historians.
The purpose of the survey is to search the general area where wreckage has been reported, record the location of any remains of the ship, photograph them, and make detailed measurements of the Boiler Beach boiler.
The results will be prepared as a formal archaeological report for the province and will provide a baseline for assessing any future changes to the wreck site and its artifacts.
This year’s work is being carried out entirely by volunteers from across Ontario, including archaeologists, divers, and historians committed to preserving Ontario’s underwater cultural heritage, and the history of the "Erie Belle," in particular.
The "Erie Belle" had been built as a wrecking tug, "Hector," in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1862. The ship was renamed the "Erie Belle" in 1879, following a fire, repairs, and sale to a Canadian captain. Working as a salvage tug during a devastating November storm, the boiler of the "Erie Belle" violently exploded while attempting to free the grounded schooner, "J.N. Carter," south of Kincardine.
The explosion destroyed the tug and killed four of the 12 men on board. The boiler that sits on the shore at Boiler Beach, is part of the original boiler from the "Erie Belle." Although boiler explosions were uncommon, they were a known risk and were responsible for several shipwrecks on the Great Lakes during the era of steam navigation.
The Boiler Beach boiler (above) has been a well-known landmark in the area for nearly a century. However, relatively little is known about the remainder of the wreck, and the details of the boiler as an artifact have never been formally recorded. Local divers have reported items of wreckage offshore over several years and have provided valuable assistance in planning this project.
This project involves protected underwater archaeological resources governed by provincial legislation.
The following conditions apply:
No artifacts will be recovered, removed, or brought to shore
The location of underwater archaeological remains will not be publicly disclosed in order to protect the integrity of the site
The public is asked to respect the protected nature of the site and avoid attempting to locate, approach, or interfere with survey activities
These measures are required under the Ontario Heritage Act and associated provincial permitting to ensure the site is documented, protected, and preserved responsibly for future study.
The work is authorized under a Marine Archaeology Licence issued by the Province of Ontario and is conducted in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act.
The Township of Huron-Kinloss and the Municipality of Kincardine have been notified of the project, along with the South Bruce OPP Marine Unit and the Archaeology Office of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation.
For additional information about the project, contact the organizers at: sseriebelle@proton.me.
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