Identification & Site Information

• Name: Alleghany
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 379
• Date Built and Launched: 1856
• Builder: J.M. Jones, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Vessel Type: Wooden Propeller, Bulk Freight “Steam Barge“
• Hull Material: Wood
• Measurements: Length: 167 ft (50.9 m) Beam: 29 ft (8.8 m) Depth: 14 ft (4.3 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 402 tons
• Net Tonnage: 267 tons
• Tonnage (Old Style): 601 tons
• Date Lost: October 29, 1896
• Place of Loss: Summer Island, Lake Michigan
• Type of Loss: Grounding in fog and storm; later Abandoned and burned
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Light cargo; towing the Barge Transfer

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Vessel Type:
Wooden-hulled steam Barge, designed for bulk freight transport on the Great Lakes, with propeller-driven steam propulsion.

Description:
The Alleghany was a wooden propeller-driven steam Barge, the first of its kind constructed in Milwaukee in 1856 by J.M. Jones. At 167 feet (50.9 m) in length, with a beam of 29 feet (8.8 m) and a depth of 14 feet (4.3 m), she was a sizable vessel for her time, capable of hauling bulk freight and towing additional barges. Her Gross Tonnage of 402 tons made her well-suited for heavy-duty transport across the Great Lakes.

The Alleghany‘s engine was salvaged from an earlier vessel of the same name (Allegheny), which had wrecked in October 1855. This practice of reusing engines was common in the 19th century, reflecting the high value of maritime machinery.

History:
The Alleghany had a long and eventful operational history, spanning four decades of Great Lakes commerce.

• 1856: Soon after her launch, she was wrecked on Lake Michigan in the fall, becoming trapped in the ice over the winter. She was later repaired in Milwaukee in 1857.
• 1875: Underwent a significant Rebuild to extend her service life, adapting to the changing demands of the shipping industry.
• 1889: She was re-powered with machinery from the vessel F.R. Buell, enhancing her performance and further modernizing her capabilities.
• Throughout her life, the Alleghany operated as part of the Tonawanda Barge Line, a prominent shipping company on the Great Lakes, and she commonly hauled bulk freight and towed barges like the Transfer.

Final Voyage and Loss: On October 29, 1896, while en route from Chicago to Manistique, Michigan, the Alleghany encountered fog and a storm near Summer Island in Lake Michigan. Navigational difficulties in the poor Visibility caused the vessel to run aground, sustaining heavy damage.

Efforts were made to refloat the vessel, and she was successfully pulled off the grounding site. However, upon inspection, she was found to be unfit for further service due to the extent of the structural damage.

Rather than invest in costly repairs, the owners decided to abandon the vessel. In July 1897, the Alleghany was burned in lieu of scrapping, a common practice at the time for decommissioning wooden ships. This method was simpler and cheaper than dismantling, especially for vessels with little salvageable material.

Final Disposition:
The Alleghany was Abandoned and burned near Summer Island in Lake Michigan in July 1897 after being deemed beyond repair. The wreck remains have not been documented as a specific dive site or archaeological location.

Located By & Date Found:
No confirmed modern discovery or detailed documentation of the wreck site has been reported.

NOTMARs & Advisories:
No specific navigational hazards related to the Alleghany are currently reported near Summer Island, though the area has a history of shipwrecks and challenging navigation.

Resources & Links:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Vessels Database – BGSU
• Edward J. Dowling Collection, University of Detroit – Mercy

Conclusion

The Alleghany represents the resilience and challenges of Great Lakes shipping in the 19th century. As the first propeller-built vessel in Milwaukee, her construction marked a significant technological milestone. Despite early setbacks, including being wrecked and frozen in ice her first winter, she served for 40 years, undergoing rebuilds and upgrades to stay competitive. Her final grounding and abandonment reflect the dangers of navigating Lake Michigan‘s unpredictable waters and the eventual obsolescence of wooden-hulled vessels in an era of steel shipbuilding.

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Keywords: Propeller Steamer, Steam Barge, Lake Michigan Shipwreck, Summer Island, Grounding, Ship Abandonment
Categories: Great Lakes Steamships, Lake Michigan Shipwrecks, 19th Century Maritime History
Glossary Terms: Steam Barge, Grounding, Re-Engined, Burned in Lieu of Scrapping