HENDRIK HUDSON (1846, Steamer)

Identification & Site Information:

• Name: HENDRIK HUDSON
• Other Names: None
• Year Built: 1846
• Official Number: Not applicable (pre-dates registration system)
• Type at Loss: Sidewheel Steamer (Passenger & Freight)
• Builder: G.W. Jones, Black River, Ohio
• Master Carpenter: G.W. Jones
• Construction Site: Black River, Ohio
• Specifications:  Length: 204 ft 8 in (62.4 m)  Beam: 32 ft (9.75 m)  Depth: 12 ft (3.66 m)
• Tonnage (Old Style): 750 46/95 tons
• Hull Material: Wood
• Number of Decks: 2

Vessel Type:

The HENDRIK HUDSON was a large wooden Sidewheel Steamer, typical of mid-19th-century vessels designed for both passenger and package freight service. Sidewheel steamers were crucial for transportation on the Great Lakes before the dominance of propeller-driven ships.

Power & Propulsion:

• Propulsion: Sidewheel-driven steam engine
• Engine: 30” x 120” single-cylinder engine
• horsepower: 500 hp
• Engine Manufacturer: Cuyahoga Works, Cleveland, Ohio
• Masts: 1 (auxiliary sail support)

Ownership & Service History:

G.W. Jones & H.M. Kinnie, Ohio City, OH & Buffalo, NY

Service Routes:

• Buffalo, NY – Chicago, IL
• Buffalo, NY – Sandusky, OH
• Green Bay, WI – Buffalo, NY

History

Launched unfinished on July 11, 1846, from Black River, Ohio, the HENDRIK HUDSON traveled to the Upper Lakes to complete her outfitting. By May 1847, she was fully operational and entered service on the busy Buffalo-to-Chicagopassenger and freight route, a critical corridor for settlers and commerce.

The vessel served multiple Steamship lines, including Reed’s Line and the Central Railroad Line, connecting key ports around the Great Lakes. Throughout her career, she experienced several notable incidents:

• 1848 (April): Collided with the Steamer CALEDONIA at Cleveland, sustaining damage but repaired soon after.
• 1849 (June 9): Severe collision with the Steamer SARATOGA east of Erie, PA, resulting in significant Hull damage and the death of two crew members.
• 1852 (August): Collided with the Brig ST. GALE in Lake Huron, again suffering damage.
• 1856 (October): Grounded near Sandusky, Ohio, requiring refloating and repairs.

Despite these setbacks, the HENDRIK HUDSON continued operating as a key passenger and freight vessel on Lake Erie and Lake Michigan routes.

Final Disposition:

On May 21, 1860, while docked at Otis & Co. Rolling Mill in the Cuyahoga River, Cleveland, Ohio, the HENDRIK HUDSON was struck by lightning, igniting a devastating fire. The vessel burned to a Total Loss in the old riverbed. By 1869, the wreck had become a navigational hazard and was subsequently removed to clear the river for expanding industrial traffic.

Resources & Links:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Historical Society
• Cleveland Maritime Museum

Conclusion:

The HENDRIK HUDSON represents the golden era of sidewheel steamers on the Great Lakes. Operating during a transformative time for maritime commerce, she served major ports and endured numerous incidents typical of early steam navigation. Though her life ended in tragedy with her fiery destruction in Cleveland, her role in shaping the region’s maritime history remains significant.