CITY OF BUFFALO: A Distinguished Sidewheel Steamer

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Name: City of Buffalo

• Vessel Type: Sidewheel Steamer

• Hull Material: Steel Hull with a wooden superstructure

• Year Built: 1896

• Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Company, Wyandotte, Michigan

• Dimensions (Original):

• Length: 298.3 feet (90.9 meters)

• Beam: 43.7 feet (13.3 meters)

• Depth: 17 feet (5.2 meters)

• Dimensions (Post-Modification):

• Length: 340.3 feet (103.7 meters)

• Beam: 43.7 feet (13.3 meters)

• Depth: 17 feet (5.2 meters)

• Tonnage:

• Gross: 2,398 tons

• Net: 1,262 tons

• Engine:

• Vertical beam (walking beam) engine with three cylinders

• Powered by six Scotch boilers

• Sidewheels: 28.5 feet (8.7 meters) with 12-foot (3.7-meter) buckets

• horsepower: 5,500 HP @ 24 rpm

• Service Area: Buffalo-Cleveland route, Lake Erie

• Final Disposition: Destroyed by fire on March 19, 1937, in Cleveland, Ohio; scrapped in 1940.

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The City of Buffalo was a Sidewheel Steamer designed for passenger and freight transport. It combined a steel Hull for durability with a wooden superstructure for passenger accommodations. Its propulsion system, a hallmark of 19th-century maritime engineering, utilized a Walking Beam Engine to drive its massive sidewheels, providing a smooth and reliable ride for passengers.

HISTORY

Construction and Early Service

The City of Buffalo was launched in 1896 by the Detroit Dry Dock Company, one of the premier Shipyards of the Great Lakes. Designed for the Buffalo and Cleveland route, it became a familiar and celebrated sight on Lake Erie. In its inaugural year, the Steamer completed 306 trips to Buffalo during the Pan-American Exposition, showcasing its reliability and capacity to serve a high-demand route.

Modifications

Between 1903 and 1904, the vessel was lengthened to 340.3 feet, increasing its capacity and functionality. This modification allowed it to better serve its growing passenger base and adapt to the evolving needs of Great Lakes transportation.

Operational Legacy

The City of Buffalo operated as a premier passenger liner for decades. Its spacious accommodations and robust engineering made it a popular choice for leisure cruises and essential transport between major ports. Known for its reliability and performance, the Steamer was an integral part of the bustling maritime economy of Lake Erie.

FINAL INCIDENT

On March 19, 1937, the City of Buffalo was docked in Cleveland, Ohio, when a catastrophic fire broke out, gutting the vessel. The wooden superstructure, a common feature of passenger steamers of the time, was highly flammable and contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze.

• Casualties: Fortunately, there were no fatalities reported.

• Damage: The fire completely destroyed the vessel, leaving only the steel Hull.

• Ownership: At the time, the Steamer was owned by William Nicholson of Detroit, Michigan.

DISPOSAL

The remains of the City of Buffalo were sold for scrap. In 1940, the burned Hull was dismantled in the Rouge River, marking the end of the vessel’s physical existence. The scrapping process was conducted under Nicholson’s supervision, ensuring that the steel and other salvageable materials were repurposed.

SIGNIFICANCE

The City of Buffalo was a hallmark of Great Lakes maritime innovation, embodying the transition from wood-hulled paddle steamers to steel-hulled vessels with advanced engineering. Its service as a passenger and freight liner contributed significantly to the economic and social connectivity of the Lake Erie region.

The fire that consumed the City of Buffalo underscores the vulnerabilities of wooden superstructures, even on steel-hulled vessels. The incident also highlights the importance of fire safety measures, which were less developed during the era of the Steamer’s operation.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Detailed accounts of the City of Buffalo and other vessels.

• Buffalo Historical Society Archives: Records of the vessel’s service during the Pan-American Exposition.

• Great Lakes Ships Database: Information on specifications and ownership.

CONCLUSION

The City of Buffalo is remembered as a symbol of an era when steamers dominated the Great Lakes. Its luxurious passenger accommodations, impressive engineering, and long service life highlight the ingenuity of Great Lakes shipbuilding. Though its fiery demise marked a tragic end, the legacy of the City of Buffalo endures in the annals of Great Lakes maritime history.

Keywords: City of Buffalo, Sidewheel Steamer, Lake Erie ship, Pan-American Exposition, Great Lakes history, maritime fire, William Nicholson, Detroit Dry Dock Company, Walking Beam Engine.