Identification & Site Information

• Name: Union
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: None (Canadian vessel)
• Date Built & Launched: 1857 (also recorded as 1856)
• Builder: Knight & Hunter, Windsor, Ontario (some sources list Jenkins, Walkerville, Ontario)
• Specifications: 163 ft x 33 ft x 10 ft (49.7 m x 10.1 m x 3.0 m), 1,190 tons
• Vessel Type: Wooden Sidewheel Steamer, passenger & package freight Ferry
• Date Lost: June 16, 1876 (other sources list 1867, 1875, or 1877)
• Place of Loss: Port Huron, Michigan, just below the mouth of the Black River, St. Clair River
• Cause of Loss: Fire

Vessel Type

The Union was a wooden Sidewheel Steamer designed as a passenger and package freight Ferry, typical of the mid-19th century Great Lakes fleet. These steamers were used for cross-border Ferry operations, mail service, and regional freight transport. The sidewheel design allowed for shallow-water operation, making them ideal for river and lake routes.

Description & History

Built in 1857 (or possibly 1856) by Knight & Hunter of Windsor, the Union served as a Ferry and package freight Steamer, likely operating in Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River, and nearby ports. Some records indicate the builder might have been Jenking of Walkerville, Ontario, reflecting discrepancies in historical records.

By 1876, the vessel had been laid up at Port Huron, Michigan, possibly undergoing maintenance or awaiting sale. On June 16, 1876, the Steamer caught fire and was completely destroyed. There were no casualties, as the vessel was not in service at the time.

There is conflicting information about the Union’s timeline: Some sources claim the vessel may have had another fire in 1875, also in Port Huron. The ship was reported as being caulked the following spring, suggesting that repairs were attempted, but there is no further record of the vessel’s operation.

This raises the possibility that the ship either suffered multiple fires or that records confused two different incidents.

Final Disposition

The Union was declared a Total Loss due to fire, and any remains were likely salvaged or left to deteriorate in the St. Clair River.

Located By & Date Found

No confirmed wreckage has been found. Given the location and circumstances, any remains may have been buried, removed, or destroyed by river traffic and dredging.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Port Huron and the Black River mouth are high-traffic areas, making any remaining debris unlikely to be present today. The St. Clair River has undergone significant dredging and development, which may have removed or buried any wreckage.

Resources & Links

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

Conclusion

The Union was a typical sidewheel Ferry of the mid-19th century, serving in Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River. Its destruction by fire in 1876 (or earlier/later, according to conflicting reports) highlights the vulnerability of wooden steamers to fire. While some evidence suggests an attempt to repair the vessel, no records confirm it ever returned to service. Its final fate remains uncertain, but it likely never sailed again after the fire.

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: Great Lakes ferries, sidewheel steamers, Port Huron shipwrecks, St. Clair River, 19th-century steamboats

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake St. Clair, 19th-century shipwrecks, wooden steamers, fire-related losses

Glossary Terms: Sidewheel Steamer, Ferry, Hull Calking, St. Clair River Navigation