B.W. Blanchard

Version 1.1. Metadata and presentation revised September 8, 2026; original evidence review retained.

Selected appearance

Early working appearance, before 1897. Photograph-informed early appearance with wooden support arches, one visible foremast and an aft funnel. Later refits are not reproduced. NOAA lists a 221 ft wreck length; a historical dimension table lists 212.3 ft. Model scale uses 221 ft as an approximate display baseline.

Documented evidence

Built by Quayle and Martin at Cleveland in 1870. NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary: B.W. Blanchard

NOAA gives 221 ft wreck length and 32.4 ft beam; original-vessel length differs in the comparative table. NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary: B.W. Blanchard

Reasonable interpretation

Hull lines, draft, colors and small fittings

Deck layout and machinery proportions

Example railcars/stores are illustrative, not a historical loading manifest

One photographed mast is reconstructed, with a bare gaff. This is not proof of the complete rig at all dates. The arch curve, timber joints, deckhouse dimensions, cargo doors, three upper hatches, boat and propeller are interpretations. The photographed side openings are represented by dark recesses, not an accessible reconstructed cargo interior. The underbody and draft are inferred. Monochrome photography does not establish the precise paint colors.

The hatch_covers node is controlled by setHatches(boolean). Removing covers reveals schematic dark hatch wells; there are no display sails. The original worksheet values and approximate wreck marker remain intact. NOAA lists 9 ft wreck depth while the worksheet says 5 ft; neither is the modeled ship’s draft. The delivered model is an evidence-informed visualization, not a measured archaeological restoration.

Unresolved uncertainties

No complete original lines plan is claimed. Exact loaded draft, concealed surfaces and fine fittings remain interpreted. The earlier research context below retains the source distinctions used for this reconstruction.

The model depicts the early working appearance shown in the surviving photograph captioned “before 1897,” rather than claiming to reproduce every refit. The photograph shows large light-colored wooden longitudinal support arches, an aft funnel, a prominent foremast with a raised gaff, cargo openings along the hull sides and separated forward/aft superstructures. These guide the silhouette. The image is hosted by Wikimedia Commons and credited there to the Great Lakes Maritime Collection; its photographer is unknown. Historical photograph and catalogue information.

NOAA records construction by Quayle and Martin at Cleveland in 1870, 221 ft wreck length, 32.4 ft beam and loss on November 29, 1904. NOAA vessel record. The model uses a 221 ft (67.3608 m) hull and 32.4 ft (9.87552 m) beam as an approximate display baseline. A historical bulk-carrier dimension table lists 212.3 ft length and 12.2 ft depth. These may reflect different measurement conventions or configurations; they have not been reconciled. The university-hosted full report was inspected during the audit revision: Table 1 gives 212.3×32.4×12.2 ft. This confirms the table entry but does not resolve its disagreement with NOAA’s221 ft wreck length. Research Report No. 13, indexed Table 1.

Sources

• NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary: B.W. Blanchard
• B.W. Blanchard historical photograph, before 1897, via Wikimedia Commons

Illustration conditions

Lake, shoreline, lighting and weather are artistic staging, not evidence of a specific historical voyage. AI artwork is supplemental; the GLB and direct renders establish the delivered geometry.