Goderich in Huron County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Great Storm of 1913

Doug Kerr via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0), May 26, 2013

1. The Great Storm of 1913 Marker

Inscription. In a storm that struck Lake Huron on November 9, 1913, ten lake freighters were lost. Seven of them vanished, ranging from the 30-year-old, 270-foot "Wexford” to the 550-foot "James Carruthers", launched six months earlier at Collingwood. The bulk of the wreckage was cast up on the shore of Huron County, where recovery and identification of the crews' bodies were directed by a Lake Carriers' Association committee based at Goderich. The storm, which ravaged the Great Lakes region for three days, destroyed a total of 19 vessels and resulted in the stranding of 19 others, with a loss of 244 lives.

Erected by Archaeological and Historic Sites Board, Department of Public Records and Archives of Ontario.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 9, 1913.

Location. 43° 44.551′ N, 81° 43.36′ W. Marker is in Goderich, Ontario, in Huron County. It is on Cobourg Street just east of Lighthouse Street, on the left when traveling

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east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Goderich ON N7A N7A, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Huron-Perth-Waterloo-Wellington Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Canadian Pacific Railway Station (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Original Lighthouse (about 120 meters away); Salt Brine Plants (about 120 meters away); Port of Goderich Lighthouse (about 150 meters away); The Ocean House Hotel (about 180 meters away); Menesetung Mineral Springs (about 180 meters away); Goderich Lighthouse (about 180 meters away); Tiger Dunlop’s Castle (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Goderich.

Also see . . . Great Lakes Storm of 1913. Wikipedia entry

Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 22, 2025

2. The Great Storm of 1913 Marker

on the storm, also called the "Big Blow," the "Freshwater Fury" and the "White Hurricane" because of its blizzard conditions with hurricane-force winds. (Submitted on March 3, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 3, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 296 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 3, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2. submitted on August 23, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.

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