Steamer Young Hickory (1864)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Young Hickory
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: 27540
• Vessel Type at Loss: Sidewheel Steamer (Steam Barge)
• Builder: G. Fordham, Sandusky, Ohio
• Year Built & Launched: 1864
• Specifications: Length: 82 ft (25 m)  Beam: 20 ft (6.1 m) Depth: 4 ft (1.2 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 59 GT
• Date Lost: October 31, 1877
• Location of Loss: Off Claybanks area, near Port Burwell, Ontario (also reported as “off Bar Point,” Lake Erie)
• Cause of Loss: Storm, Foundered in gale
• Loss of Life: 1 fatality
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Wood

Vessel Description & History

The Young Hickory was a small wooden Sidewheel Steamer, built in 1864 by G. Fordham in Sandusky, Ohio. Her exact purpose varied throughout her career, as some records describe her as a traditional sternwheeler, while others classify her as a “steam Barge”, meaning she was likely used for both cargo transport and towing.

One source from her homeport of Sandusky referred to her as “the only old-fashioned sternwheeler on Lake Erie”, suggesting she was a unique vessel by the time of her loss. However, other reports describe her as a steam Barge with a propeller, indicating there may have been modifications or confusion in historical accounts.

During her service, the Young Hickory was engaged in transporting wood and other bulk materials around Lake Erie. Small steamers like her were vital to the lumber trade, helping move cut timber from logging sites to sawmills and cities along the lake.

Final Voyage & Loss

On October 31, 1877, the Young Hickory was carrying a load of wood when she encountered a fierce gale on Lake Erie. Battling strong winds and waves, she eventually Foundered off the Claybanks area, near Port Burwell, Ontario. Some reports place her wreck closer to Bar Point, adding some uncertainty to the exact location of her sinking.

In a remarkable turn of events, the crew of the Schooner Porter rescued her surviving crew members, along with another full crew that the Young Hickory had previously rescued. This indicates that before her sinking, she had already been involved in a prior rescue operation, possibly saving sailors from another ship in distress.

Tragically, one crew member was lost during the disaster.

Final Disposition

The wreck was Abandoned in 1878, and no known salvage efforts were made.  Given the relatively shallow waters of Lake Erie, it is possible that wreckage remains may still exist, though no modern discovery has been documented.

Located By & Date Found

No confirmed discovery of the wreck has been reported.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No known modern navigational hazards related to this vessel exist today. However, Lake Erie remains a high-risk region for shipwrecks, particularly in areas near Port Burwell and Bar Point, where numerous vessels have gone down due to storms and shallow shoals.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• Great Lakes Maritime Database (GLMD): https://greatlakeships.org
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org
• Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU): https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels

Conclusion

The Young Hickory was a small but resilient Steamer, serving in Great Lakes cargo transport for 13 years before succumbing to a Lake Erie storm in 1877. Her final act of rescuing another crew before sinking highlights the dangers and heroism often seen in Great Lakes maritime history. Though her wreck remains undiscovered, her legacy as a rare Sidewheel Steamer (or sternwheeler) on Lake Erie remains part of the region’s rich nautical past.