Identification & Site Information

• Name: Union
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: None
• Date Built & Launched: 1855
• Builder: J. P. Arnold, Port Union (possibly Port Huron), Michigan
• Specifications: 92 ft x 18 ft x 8 ft (28.0 m x 5.5 m x 2.4 m), 116 tons (old measurement)
• Vessel Type: Wooden Sidewheel Steamer or Ferry
• Date Lost: December 30, 1865
• Place of Loss: Detroit, Michigan, Detroit River
• Cause of Loss: Fire
• Loss of Life: Unknown
• Cargo: Unknown
• Owner: H. B. Boyers and others, Detroit

Vessel Type

The Union was a wooden Sidewheel Steamer, possibly a passenger Ferry or package freight vessel, operating on the Detroit River. Sidewheel steamers were commonly used for short-distance Ferry routes between Detroit, Windsor, and other nearby ports, as well as for carrying mail, cargo, and passengers along the Great Lakes.

Description & History

Built in 1855 by J. P. Arnold, the Union was a modest-sized steam vessel, serving the Detroit River region. Given its small size and sidewheel propulsion, it was likely used as a local Ferry or transport Steamer.

On December 30, 1865, the vessel caught fire while in Detroit and burned to a Total Loss. Details of how the fire started are unknown, and no confirmed reports exist regarding casualties. Fires were a common hazard for wooden steamers, as the combination of open flames, wooden construction, and stored fuels (coal or wood) made them highly susceptible to rapid destruction.

Final Disposition

The Union was completely destroyed by fire, with no records of salvage efforts. Any remnants were likely removed or scattered by river currents.

Located By & Date Found

No confirmed discovery of wreckage has been documented. Given the Detroit River’s heavy development, dredging, and strong currents, any remains have likely been lost or buried.

NOTMARs & Advisories

The Detroit River is a heavily trafficked and industrialized waterway, making the likelihood of wreckage discovery low. No known modern navigational hazards are linked to this wreck.

Resources & Links

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

Conclusion

The Union was one of many small sidewheel steamers that played a vital role in local transportation along the Detroit River. Its destruction by fire in 1865 highlights the dangers of wooden steam vessels, which were prone to rapid and often catastrophic fires. While its wreck has never been located, its loss is a testament to the challenges of early Ferry and Steamship operations on the Great Lakes.

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: Great Lakes steamers, sidewheel steamers, Detroit River shipwrecks, 19th-century ferries, wooden Steamer fires

Categories: Shipwrecks of the Detroit River, 19th-century shipwrecks, wooden steamers, fire-related losses

Glossary Terms: Sidewheel Steamer, Ferry, Wooden Steamship, Detroit River Navigation