Sidewheel Scow-Steamer C.C. Trowbridge (1839–1842)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: C.C. Trowbridge
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: None (Pre-1869 U.S. Vessel Documentation Era)
• Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden sidewheel scow-Steamer (a hybrid of a scow and a paddle Steamer, used for shallow-Draft transport)
• Builder: McLaughlin (or possibly William Wilkin), Saugatuck, Michigan (also recorded as built on the Kalamazoo River)
• Year Built & Launched: 1839
• Specifications:  Length: 73 ft (22.3 m) Beam: 16 ft (4.9 m)  Depth: 5 ft (1.5 m)
• Tonnage: 42 Tonnage (Old Style)
• Date Lost: December 5, 1842
• Location of Loss: Near Milwaukee, Lake Michigan
• Cause of Loss: Stranded in a storm
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo at Time of Loss: None (likely operating as a harbour Lighter at Milwaukee)

Vessel Description & Service History

The C.C. Trowbridge was a small, shallow-Draft sidewheel scow-Steamer, built in 1839 in Saugatuck, Michigan. She was one of the earliest steam-powered vessels operating on the Great Lakes, designed to navigate both river and lake environments. Her scow-style Hull allowed her to operate in shallow waters, making her useful for harbor transport, towing, and freight movement. Owned by Brown, Trowbridge & Dousman, she was likely used for early lake trade and lightering operations.  Her master at the time of loss was Capt. Joseph Sherwood.

By 1842, she was likely in use as a harbor Lighter in Milwaukee, assisting in transferring cargo between large lake vessels and smaller docks.

Final Voyage & Loss (1842)

On December 5, 1842, C.C. Trowbridge was caught in a late-season gale near Milwaukee, Lake Michigan  She stranded in rough waters, suffering significant damage. Initially thought to be a Total Loss, she was reported wrecked. However, local Milwaukee sources later stated that she was recovered, stripped of her steam machinery, and lengthened the following year (1843). This suggests she may have remained in service for several more years, though her ultimate fate is unclear.

Notable Incidents

June 11, 1842 – C.C. Trowbridge was damaged in a collision, the same year as her reported loss. Some records confuse her with other vessels of the same name, including: A 30-ton vessel built in 1838 in Detroit, which was wrecked in a collision off Bar Point, Lake Erie, in 1857, but recovered in 1858 and returned to service in 1860.

Final Disposition & Salvage

• Initially reported as a Total Loss in 1842 but later claimed to have been salvaged and modified in 1843.
• Stripped of steam machinery and possibly continued service for some time.
• Ultimate fate remains unknown.
• No confirmed wreck site identified.
•  If remains exist, they would likely be near Milwaukee, Lake Michigan.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Milwaukee’s shoreline was historically treacherous for early vessels, with frequent groundings due to shifting sandbars and storms. Scow-steamers were common in early Great Lakes commerce, but many were short-lived due to their small size and wooden construction. Fire, storms, and mechanical failures were common causes of loss for early steam-powered vessels.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• Great Lakes Maritime Database (GLMD): https://greatlakeships.org
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org
• Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU): https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels

Conclusion

The C.C. Trowbridge was an early steam-powered scow-Steamer, used for harbor operations and freight transfer. While reported lost in 1842 near Milwaukee, some sources indicate she was later salvaged, modified, and possibly remained in service for years. Her ultimate fate remains uncertain, but she played a small but significant role in early Great Lakes commerce and steam navigation.