Vessel Identification

• Original Names:

• DARIUS COLE (1885 – 1906)

• HURON (1906 – 1921)

• Final Name:

• COLONIAL (1921 – 1925)

• Official Number: 127089

• Type: Excursion Vessel

• Location of Build: Waterloo or Baldwinsville, NY

• Year Built: 1895

Specifications

• Dimensions:

• Length: 91.2 feet (27.8 meters)

• Beam: 17.4 feet (5.3 meters)

• Depth: 5.7 feet (1.7 meters)

• Gross Tonnage: 110 tons

• Net Tonnage: 80 tons

Vessel History

• Construction and Initial Role:

• Originally built as a sidewheeler named DARIUS COLE in 1885 by Globe Shipbuilding in Cleveland.

• Name Changes and Conversion:

• Renamed HURON in 1906.

• Renamed COLONIAL in 1921.

• Converted from a sidewheeler to a propeller vessel after 1910. This Conversion also included a walking-beam engine, making it a unique propulsion system for a vessel of its type.

• Service Use:

• Throughout its service, the vessel was used for both passenger transport and as an auto carrier, marking it as a versatile vessel for excursions and local transport.

Loss of the COLONIAL

On September 2, 1925, the COLONIAL embarked on a journey to its home port in Dunkirk, NY, where it was scheduled to take on an excursion party destined for Crystal Beach. Tragically, while off the coast of Barcelona, NY in Lake Erie, a fire broke out onboard, quickly engulfing the vessel. The blaze gutted the ship, causing it to sink in shallow water. Sadly, four lives were lost in the incident.

Additional Information

• Post-Sinking:

• After the fire and sinking, the remains of the COLONIAL were later recovered for scrap and dismantled at Dunkirk, NY.

• Historical Significance:

• The COLONIAL’s unique history of name changes and its Conversion from a sidewheeler to a propeller vessel with a walking-beam engine provides insight into maritime adaptation and the vessel’s continued service across different roles.

• Photographic Records:

• Images of the COLONIAL show it in its final converted form, indicating its distinctive features as a propeller-driven excursion vessel.

Summary

The COLONIAL, originally named DARIUS COLE and later HURON, had a storied history marked by its multiple name changes and modifications. Despite its adaptations, the vessel ultimately met a tragic fate when it caught fire and sank in Lake Erie while en route to an excursion destination. The loss not only claimed four lives but also ended the vessel’s decades-long service.