Identification & Site Information

• Name: Harbinger
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 211160
• Date Built & Launched: 1913
• Builder: Erie, Pennsylvania
• Measurements: 56 ft x 18 ft x 4 ft (17.1 m x 5.5 m x 1.2 m)
• Tonnage: 33 gross tons, 23 net tons
• Date Lost: December 9, 1928
• Place of Loss: Unreported location, Lake Erie
• Type of Loss: Fire
• Loss of Life: 2
• Cargo: Unknown

Vessel Type

The Harbinger was a steam-powered scow, specifically built as a piledriver vessel. Piledrivers were used for marine construction, such as building docks, piers, and other waterfront structures.

Description

Built in 1913 in Erie, Pennsylvania, the Harbinger was a relatively small but important work vessel designed for driving pilings into the lakebed for construction projects. Scows like this were commonly used by contractors and harbor authorities for infrastructure development along the Great Lakes. The vessel was powered by steam, making it more efficient than earlier hand-cranked or manually operated pile-driving rigs.

History

The Harbinger served for over 15 years in construction and harbor work on Lake Erie. As a working vessel rather than a cargo carrier, it likely moved between job sites rather than maintaining a regular route. Given the period in which it operated, it was likely involved in early 20th-century waterfront expansion projects in the region.

On December 9, 1928, the Harbinger was destroyed by fire. The exact location of the incident is unreported, but two lives were lost in the disaster. Fires on steam-powered vessels were not uncommon, often caused by boiler malfunctions, fuel leaks, or accidental ignition of onboard materials.

Final Disposition

The Harbinger was completely destroyed by fire and was never recovered. There is no record of a salvage attempt, and any remains likely sank or were removed over time.

Located By & Date Found

No confirmed modern discovery of the wreck exists.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No known Navigation Hazards associated with the wreck site.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Maritime Database – Bowling Green State University
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The Harbinger represents a lesser-known but important category of work vessels that played a key role in the development of Great Lakes ports and harbors. The circumstances surrounding its loss remain unclear, but the deaths of two crew members highlight the risks associated with early 20th-century steam-powered construction equipment.

Suggested Keywords & Categories

• Keywords: Harbinger shipwreck, Lake Erie shipwrecks, steam-powered piledriver, Great Lakes construction vessels, marine fire disasters
• Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Erie History, Work Vessel Disasters, Fire-Related Shipwrecks
• Glossary Terms: Piledriver, Scow, Steam Vessel, Fire at Sea, Harbor Construction