Identification & Site Information

• Name: M.T. Greene
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 91944
• Date Built and Launched: 1887
• Builder: R.W. Linn, Gibraltar, Michigan
• Vessel Type: Wooden Steambarge
• Hull Material: Wood
• Number of Decks: 1
• Measurements:Length: 155 ft (47.2 m) Beam: 30 ft (9.1 m) Depth: 11.6 ft (3.5 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 523.93 tons
• Net Tonnage: 421.52 tons
• Propulsion: Screw Propeller
• Engine Type: For-and-Aft Compound
• Engine Specifications: Two cylinders (20 in. + 36 in. x 36 in.), 400 HP at 96 RPM
• Engine Builder: Wilson & Hendrie, Montague Iron Works
• Boiler: One Firebox Boiler (9 ft x 151 in.) at 110 PSI by Wilson & Hendrie, Montague Iron Works
• Number of Masts: 2
• Original Owner: Chicago Lumber Company, Chicago, Illinois
• Date Lost: March 19, 1928
• Place of Loss: 4 miles north of Bridgeburg, Ontario, Niagara River
• Type of Loss: Burned
• Loss of Life: Not specified
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Not specified

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Vessel Type:
Wooden steambarge used as a Bulk Carrier and tow vessel on the Great Lakes, supporting industries such as lumber, gypsum, coal, and ore transportation.

Description:
The M.T. Greene was a wooden steambarge constructed in 1887 at Gibraltar, Michigan, by R.W. Linn. Measuring 155 feet (47.2 m) in length with a beam of 30 feet (9.1 m) and a depth of 11.6 feet (3.5 m), the vessel had a Gross Tonnage of 523.93 and a Net Tonnage of 421.52. The M.T. Greene was powered by a for-and-aft compound engine generating 400 horsepower, supported by a Firebox Boiler, both built by Wilson & Hendrie of Montague Iron Works. This robust engineering allowed her to serve as both a freight carrier and a Towboat, handling bulk materials and towing other vessels across the Great Lakes.

History:
The M.T. Greene had a dynamic operational history spanning over four decades, serving various owners and participating in numerous freight and towing operations:

• 1887: Enrolled in Detroit on October 5 and initially owned by the Chicago Lumber Company and Andrew Flagsted of Montague, Michigan.
• 1889: Towed the vessel C.H. Minch and experienced a collision with the Tug J.C. Perrot in the Sturgeon Bay Canal on October 30.
• 1890: Towed vessels like City of the Straits, Donaldson & Gebhart, and D.P. Dobbins in the Ashland ore trade.
• 1894: Wrecked on Lake Huron, though details of the incident are sparse; she was evidently salvaged and returned to service.
• 1897-1905: Changed ownership multiple times, reflecting the shifting demands of the shipping industry:
• 1897: Enrolled in Cleveland, still owned by the Chicago Lumber Company. Later that year, ownership transferred to Waldo A. Avery of Detroit.
• 1901: Owned by the Alabaster Company of Alabaster, Michigan.
• 1903: Purchased by the Gypsum Transportation Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
• 1905: Sold to the Erie & Michigan Railway & Navigation Co. of Chicago.
• 1909: Towed the vessel Nelson Bloom.
• 1911: Aground at Devil Island, Georgian Bay, with wire and coal cargo but was successfully released.
• 1915: Aground at Kelly’s Island, Lake Erie on August 13.
• 1917: Underwent a major Rebuild to extend her operational life.

Final Voyage and Loss:
By 1928, the M.T. Greene was owned by the Diamond Gravel & Navigation Company of Buffalo, New York. On March 19, 1928, while navigating the Niagara River near Bridgeburg, Ontario (now part of Fort Erie), the vessel caught fire and was destroyed. The exact cause of the fire remains unspecified in available records, but such incidents were common for aging wooden vessels, especially those still powered by steam. There is no mention of casualties, suggesting the crew may have escaped, though this remains unconfirmed.

Final Disposition:
The M.T. Greene was burned and lost in the Niagara River in 1928. The wreck has not been documented as a dive site or salvage location.

Located By & Date Found:
No confirmed modern discovery of the wreck has been reported.

NOTMARs & Advisories:
No current navigational hazards related to the M.T. Greene have been reported in the Niagara River near Bridgeburg, Ontario.

Resources & Links:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Vessels Database – BGSU
• Edward J. Dowling Collection, University of Detroit – Mercy

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Conclusion

The M.T. Greene exemplifies the evolution of Great Lakes steambarges during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Serving as both a bulk freight carrier and tow vessel, she adapted to the demands of the lumber, gypsum, coal, and ore trades. Despite multiple groundings and a wreck on Lake Huron, the vessel remained in service for over 40 years, reflecting both her resilience and the importance of wooden steambarges in Great Lakes commerce. Her fiery end in 1928 on the Niagara River marked the conclusion of a long and industrious career.

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Keywords: Steambarge, Niagara River, Great Lakes Shipwreck, Bulk Freight Vessel, Towing Vessel, Maritime Fire
Categories: Great Lakes Steambarges, Niagara River Shipwrecks, 19th Century Maritime History
Glossary Terms: For-and-Aft Compound Engine, Screw Propeller, Firebox Boiler, Bulk Carrier, Tow Vessel