Identification & Site Information

• Name: United Workman
• Former Names: Unknown
• Official Number: 164181
• Date Built & Launched: 1891
• Builder: Tonawanda, New York
• Specifications: 101 gross tons, 96 net tons
• Vessel Type: Wooden unrigged canal boat
• Date Lost: November 14, 1912
• Place of Loss: Near Rochester, New York
• Body of Water: Lake Ontario or Erie Canal system
• Cause of Loss: Fire
• Homeport: Plattsburgh, New York

Vessel Type

The United Workman was an unrigged wooden canal boat, meaning it lacked sails or its own propulsion system and was likely towed by a Tug or another vessel. Such canal boats were commonly used for cargo transport along the Erie Canal and Great Lakes waterways, carrying materials like coal, grain, lumber, or manufactured goods.

Description & History

Built in Tonawanda, New York, in 1891, the United Workman was part of the expanding Erie Canal and Great Lakes transportation network. By the late 19th century, wooden canal boats like this one were a critical part of commerce, linking the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River and Erie Canal.

While the exact circumstances of its final journey are unclear, the United Workman was burned near Rochester, New York, on November 14, 1912. No crew or passengers were aboard at the time, suggesting the boat may have been moored, Abandoned, or awaiting cargo transport when the fire broke out.

It is uncertain whether the vessel was operating on Lake Ontario or within the Erie Canal system at the time of its loss. The lack of available details suggests that the vessel may not have been of high-profile commercial importance or that records of the incident were minimal.

Final Disposition

The United Workman was likely destroyed beyond repair, with no salvage efforts recorded. If the vessel was on the Erie Canal, remnants could have been removed to maintain navigation, while if it was on Lake Ontario, wreckage might have sunk or been washed ashore.

Located By & Date Found

No confirmed discovery of wreckage has been documented.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No known modern navigational hazards linked to this wreck exist. If lost on the Erie Canal, the area would have been dredged or cleared over time.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• NOAA Great Lakes Shipwrecks

Conclusion

The United Workman was a typical late 19th-century wooden canal boat, playing a role in the regional economy by transporting goods through New York’s extensive waterway system. The circumstances of its fire and loss remain unclear, but its fate represents the gradual decline of wooden canal boats as steel-hulled vessels and rail transport became more dominant in the early 20th century.

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: Erie Canal boat, Lake Ontario shipwrecks, Rochester maritime history, Great Lakes canal boats, 19th-century shipping

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Ontario, Erie Canal losses, wooden canal boats, fire-related losses

Glossary Terms: Canal Boat, Towed Vessel, Erie Canal, Unrigged Vessel