IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Vessel Name: Cresco

• Year Built: 1882

• Type of Wreck: Steam-Powered Propeller Vessel

• Final Location: Ogdensburg, NY, St. Lawrence River

• Depth: Information not available

• GPS Coordinates: Specific coordinates not provided

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The Cresco was a steam-powered propeller vessel with a wooden Hull, built in 1882 in Ogdensburg, New York. Designed for river transport, it featured a single high-pressure engine manufactured by Sutton Brothers of Buffalo, NY. The engine, a 165-horsepower unit operating at 160 revolutions per minute, powered one propeller. A Firebox Boiler measuring 4 feet 6 inches by 9 feet provided 120 pounds of steam pressure.

This compact vessel was well-suited for work on the St. Lawrence River, with robust construction and efficient machinery for its time.

DIMENSIONS AND TONNAGE

• Length: 75 feet

• Beam: 17 feet

• Depth: 5 feet

• Gross Tonnage: 62 tons

• Net Tonnage: 36.57 tons

HISTORY

The Cresco was constructed in 1882, originally owned by S.A. Cline of Ogdensburg, NY. By 1885, it was enrolled in Waddington, NY, and primarily operated on the St. Lawrence River. Throughout its operational life, the vessel endured harsh conditions and incidents reflective of the challenges faced by steam-powered river vessels of the era.

Notable Events

• Winter 1880: The vessel became frozen in ice at Brockville, Ontario.

• January 1890: Damaged during a severe storm on the river in Ogdensburg, NY.

• 1899: Ownership transferred to J.W. Hatch of Waddington, NY, continuing river work.

• October 1908: The Cresco met its end in a fire while docked in Ogdensburg, NY. The exact cause of the fire remains unclear.

Despite its resilience and reliable service, the Cresco succumbed to the hazards of its operating environment, reflecting the impermanence of wooden vessels in the face of natural and man-made adversities.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The Cresco was destroyed by fire in October 1908 while docked in Ogdensburg, NY. The vessel’s operational life ended abruptly, leaving minimal remains at its final resting place in the St. Lawrence River.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES

No current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are associated with the wreck of the Cresco. Its location remains largely undocumented.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

Due to the destructive nature of its final fire, the physical remnants of the Cresco are likely minimal. Its wreck site near Ogdensburg, NY, in the St. Lawrence River, has not been widely explored or preserved, making accessibility uncertain.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Great Lakes Ships: Historical vessel records and operational data.

• David Swayze Shipwreck File: Comprehensive documentation of Great Lakes wrecks.

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Contextual information about regional maritime activity.

• Bowling Green State University Historical Collections: Archival data for maritime historians.

KEYWORDS

• Steam Propeller

• Cresco

• Ogdensburg

• St. Lawrence River

• Wooden Hull

• Shipwreck

• 19th Century Maritime

ANALYSIS

The Cresco exemplifies the challenges faced by steam-powered vessels on the St. Lawrence River in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Despite its efficient design and sturdy construction, it endured harsh weather and operational hazards that culminated in its destruction by fire. The vessel’s history highlights the perilous conditions of river transportation and the impermanence of even the most robust ships. The Cresco’s story is a poignant reminder of the resilience required by mariners navigating these historic waterways.