CITY OF GENOA: A Stalwart Freighter and Its Eventful End

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Vessel Name: City of Genoa

• Vessel Type: Propeller Bulk Freighter

• Builder: James Davidson, West Bay City, Michigan

• Year Built: 1892

• Dimensions:

• Length: 301 feet (91.7 m)

• Beam: 42.42 feet (12.9 m)

• Depth: 20 feet (6.1 m)

• Tonnage:

• Gross: 2,109 tons

• Net: 1,773 tons

• Owners: Owned during its service life by shipping companies specializing in bulk cargo transport.

• Final Incident: Collision and sinking, August 26, 1911, near Sarnia, Ontario, in the St. Clair River.

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The City of Genoa was a large, wooden-hulled bulk freighter designed to transport heavy cargos such as grain, coal, or iron ore. Built by James Davidson, a noted shipbuilder of wooden vessels, the City of Genoa was an impressive example of late 19th-century wooden ship construction. Its substantial size and capacity made it competitive with steel vessels of the same era.

HISTORY

Construction and Early Career

Launched in 1892, the City of Genoa was built during a transitional period in Great Lakes shipbuilding when wooden freighters were being replaced by steel-hulled ships. Despite this trend, Davidson continued constructing large wooden freighters, taking advantage of the abundant timber resources near his West Bay City shipyard. The freighter operated successfully for nearly two decades, carrying bulk cargos across the Great Lakes.

The Collision

On August 26, 1911, the City of Genoa collided with the steel freighter W.H. Gilbert near the Ferry dock in Sarnia, Ontario, on the St. Clair River. The collision caused severe damage to the wooden vessel, and it quickly sank. Remarkably, all crew members escaped unharmed, avoiding a potential loss of life.

The W.H. Gilbert, a steel freighter built in the same year as the City of Genoa, sustained only minor damage. Owned by the Gilchrist Transportation Company, the steel freighter represented the newer generation of more durable vessels that would eventually dominate Great Lakes shipping.

Salvage Efforts and Final Disposal

The Reid Wrecking Company salvaged the City of Genoa on September 20, 1911, raising the vessel from the riverbed. However, the damage was too extensive, and the freighter was declared a constructive Total Loss. The machinery and boilers were removed, and the stripped Hull was temporarily docked in Port Huron, Michigan.

During the salvage, the grain cargo began to ferment, releasing a powerful and unpleasant odor that prompted complaints from local residents. The Hull was eventually burned at the dock on October 9, 1915, leaving only the skeletal remains of the ship.

In 1928, the remains of the City of Genoa were towed into Lake Huron and scuttled approximately 11 miles north of Sarnia, Ontario. The wreck now lies among other vessels of the Sarnia “Ghost Fleet”, a collection of scuttled ships in approximately 80 feet (24 m) of water.

FINAL DISPOSITION

• Date of Loss: August 26, 1911 (collision and sinking)

• Location: Near Ferry dock, Sarnia, Ontario, St. Clair River

• Fate: Raised in 1911, declared a Total Loss, stripped of machinery and boilers, burned in Port Huron in 1915, and scuttled in Lake Huron in 1928.

LOCATED BY & DATE

The wreck of the City of Genoa was scuttled in 1928 and rests approximately 11 miles north of Sarnia, Ontario, in 80 feet of water. It is part of the Sarnia “Ghost Fleet”, a site known for its Abandoned vessels.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

There are no active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specific to the City of Genoa wreck site. However, divers exploring the Sarnia “Ghost Fleet” should exercise caution due to the historical wreckage and potentially hazardous conditions.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Great Lakes Vessel History
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Bowling Green State University
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes

CONCLUSION

The City of Genoa serves as an emblem of the transitional period in Great Lakes shipping, representing the waning era of large wooden freighters. Its loss in 1911 marked the end of a storied career, punctuated by its dramatic collision with the W.H. Gilbert. Today, the vessel’s remains lie in Lake Huron, a part of the Sarnia “Ghost Fleet”, preserving its legacy as a significant part of Great Lakes maritime history.

Keywords: City of Genoa, Lake Huron shipwreck, Sarnia Ghost Fleet, Great Lakes freighters, St. Clair River collision, wooden bulk freighter.