IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

•Vessel Name: Alice Vivian

•Vessel Type: Dredge Barge (Unpowered)

•Build Date: 1898

•Build Location: Islip, New York

•Official Number: 30240

•Dimensions: Gross Tonnage: 710 tons, Net Tonnage: 710 tons

•Final Resting Place: Connie’s Landing, St. Louis River, Duluth, Lake Superior

•Date of Loss: 1975

•Cause of Loss: Fire (Arson)

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The Alice Vivian was an unpowered Dredge Barge designed for operations such as clearing debris, coal, and ore from harbors. Built in 1898, it was a large and robust vessel with a gross and Net Tonnage of 710 tons, emphasizing its capability to handle significant dredging work. Barges of this type were critical for maintaining navigable waterways in bustling ports like Duluth, ensuring the smooth movement of cargo and vessels.

HISTORY

The Alice Vivian was constructed in Islip, New York, in 1898 and brought to the Great Lakes via the Erie Canal before 1911, primarily to serve the Zenith Dredge Co. in Duluth, Minnesota. Its main role was to assist in dredging operations within Duluth Harbor, particularly clearing spilled coal and ore—essential tasks for maintaining the functionality of the harbor.

By 1947, the Alice Vivian was laid up at Connie’s Landing on the St. Louis River. Over the next two decades, the vessel remained Abandoned and largely forgotten, a relic of its active days in harbor maintenance.

Incident and Loss

In 1975, the Alice Vivian was set ablaze by vandals in an act of arson. The fire consumed the vessel down to the waterline, after which it sank at its location in Connie’s Landing. While the incident caused no loss of life, it marked the end of the Barge’s presence in Duluth Harbor.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The remains of the Alice Vivian rest submerged at Connie’s Landing in the St. Louis River. The vessel burned to the waterline and sank, leaving minimal recoverable structure. Due to the nature of its loss, the site is not considered a significant diving location or navigational hazard but remains a part of the maritime history of Lake Superior.

RESOURCES & LINKS

•David Swayze Shipwreck File: Comprehensive database for Great Lakes shipwrecks, including the Alice Vivian.

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Documentation of vessels and incidents in the Great Lakes region.

•Great Lakes Ships Database: Historical records for vessels like the Alice Vivian.

KEYWORDS

Alice Vivian Dredge Barge, Lake Superior shipwrecks, Duluth Harbor history, St. Louis River shipwreck, Great Lakes dredging vessels, Zenith Dredge Co., 1975 arson shipwreck, Connie’s Landing shipwreck, Great Lakes Abandoned vessels.

CONCLUSION

The Alice Vivian exemplifies the utilitarian vessels that supported the Great Lakes’ thriving shipping and industrial operations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its years of service in Duluth Harbor reflect its importance in maintaining the region’s maritime infrastructure. The vessel’s abandonment and eventual destruction by arson in 1975 underscore the challenges of preserving such maritime heritage, even as its remains continue to hold historical significance for the Duluth and Lake Superior communities.