Identification & Site Information

• Name: SAGINAW
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 115118
• Date Built & Launched: 1866
• Builder: Marine City Shipyard, Marine City, Michigan
• Original Purpose: Built as a sidewheel steamer
• Registration Number(s): 115118
• Measurements: Length: 194 ft (59.13 m) Beam: 29 ft (8.84 m) Depth: 11 ft (3.35 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 509 tons
• Net Tonnage: 431 tons

Vessel Type

The SAGINAW was originally built as a wooden sidewheel steamer for passenger and freight service. Over her operational life, she underwent significant conversions, first to a Schooner-Barge and later to a propeller-driven steam Barge primarily engaged in the lumber trade.

Description

Constructed in 1866 at Marine City, Michigan, the SAGINAW was typical of mid-19th-century sidewheel steamers, designed for versatility in both passenger and freight transport. Her sharp passenger-ship prow, visible in historical images, indicated her initial role as a vessel capable of handling both cargo and travelers with speed and efficiency.

Measuring 194 feet in length, with a 29-foot beam and an 11-foot Draft, she was relatively large for her time. Originally powered by sidewheel propulsion, she relied on large paddle wheels mounted on either side of the Hull, a common design before the widespread adoption of more efficient screw propellers.

However, as maritime technology advanced and the demand for bulk freight services grew, the SAGINAW was converted twice:

• 1866: Launched as a sidewheel steamer in Marine City, Michigan, operating in passenger and general freight services.
• 1891: Converted into a schooner-barge, likely to extend her service life amid growing competition from more modern steam-powered vessels.
• 1893: Underwent a second Conversion, this time to a propeller-driven steam barge, optimized for carrying bulk lumber, a major commodity on the Great Lakes at the time.
• 1905: At the time of her final incident, the SAGINAW was bound for Cheboygan, Michigan, a key hub for the lumber industry.

Final Disposition

On November 24, 1905, while traveling light (without cargo), the SAGINAW caught fire approximately 3 miles below Port Huron on the St. Clair River. Initial reports described her as burning to a Total Loss, a common fate for wooden steamers of the era, as onboard fires could spread rapidly through wooden superstructures and flammable cargo holds.

However, contemporary newspaper accounts indicate that two tugs and the local fire department responded swiftly to the scene. Their combined efforts reportedly prevented the vessel from being completely destroyed, suggesting that much of her Hull and machinery may have remained intact.

Interestingly, the SAGINAW was not officially Abandoned until 1914, nearly a decade after the fire. This delay implies that the vessel was likely salvaged and returned to service after extensive repairs, although her activities during this final phase are not well-documented.

Located By & Date Found

There is no known wreck site associated with the SAGINAW, as she was likely recovered and operated for several more years following the 1905 fire. Any remaining structure would have been dismantled when the vessel was finally decommissioned and scrapped after 1914.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are related to the SAGINAW, as she did not remain submerged or Abandoned in navigable waters.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Vessels Database – Bowling Green State University
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Historical Collections of the Great Lakes (HCGL)

Conclusion

The SAGINAW’s story reflects the adaptability of Great Lakes vessels during a period of rapid technological change. Originally a Sidewheel Steamer, she was twice converted to meet the shifting demands of maritime commerce. Her near-destruction by fire in 1905 and subsequent recovery demonstrate both the resilience of her design and the economic importance of extending the life of working vessels. Though she was ultimately decommissioned and scrapped, the SAGINAW’s long service life highlights the evolution of shipping practices on the Great Lakes from the mid-19th to the early 20th century.