Sidewheel Steamer Troy (1845–1860)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Troy
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: None (pre-1869 U.S. vessel documentation era)
• Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden Sidewheel Steamer (passenger & package freight)
• Builder: F.N. Jones, Maumee, Ohio
• Year Built & Launched: 1845
• Specifications: Length: 182 ft (55.5 m)  Beam: 28 ft (8.5 m)  Depth: 11 ft (3.4 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 546 GT (old measurement system)
• Date Lost: March 4, 1860
• Location of Loss: Off Goderich, Ontario, Lake Huron
• Cause of Loss: Ice and spring flood (freshet carried vessel into the lake, where it sank)
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo at Time of Loss: None (laid up for winter at time of sinking)

Vessel Description & Service History

The Troy was a wooden-hulled Sidewheel Steamer, built in 1845 by F.N. Jones in Maumee, Ohio. She was designed as a passenger and package freight vessel, operating routes on the Great Lakes. Owned by the Buffalo & Lake Huron Railroad, the vessel played a role in early rail and lake transport connections. She transported passengers, goods, and mail between Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, and Canadian ports along Lake Huron.

Despite being a well-built and active Steamer, the Troy had a history of serious incidents before her final loss.

Major Incidents

1850 Explosion & Fire (Black Rock, NY)  On March 23, 1850, the Troy suffered a catastrophic boiler explosion at Black Rock, New York (near Buffalo). The explosion caused a fire, severely damaging the ship.  22 lives were reportedly lost, though some newspaper reports suggest the number was lower.  The vessel was recovered and Rebuilt the following year and returned to service.

Final Voyage & Loss (1860)

By early 1860, the Troy had been laid up for the winter near Goderich, Ontario, along Lake Huron’s Canadian shore. On March 4, 1860, a spring freshet (flood from melting ice and snow) swept the vessel from her moorings. The ice and floodwaters carried her about two miles into Lake Huron, where she sank in deep water. The loss was estimated at $5,000, and she was not salvaged.

Final Disposition & Salvage

• Declared a Total Loss after sinking.
• No known salvage attempts.
• No confirmed modern discovery of wreckage.
• No confirmed wreck site identified.
• Possible remains may exist offshore near Goderich, Ontario, in deep water.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Goderich, Ontario, was a key Great Lakes port, with many shipwrecks due to ice, storms, and shifting shore conditions. Spring freshets were common causes of vessel damage, particularly for wooden ships moored in rivers or harbors.  Boiler explosions were a frequent hazard for early steamers, often leading to fire and loss of life.

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 Troy was a notable early Sidewheel Steamer, operating for nearly 15 years before being lost to natural forces in 1860. Her boiler explosion in 1850 was a major tragedy, yet she was Rebuilt and continued service for another decade. Though her final loss was less dramatic, it serves as a reminder of how unpredictable Great Lakes conditions could be, even for vessels at rest. Today, her remains have not been found, likely resting deep off Goderich, Ontario.