IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The ALVAH S. CHISHOLM JR. was a wooden sandsucker barge, a type of vessel designed specifically for the extraction and transportation of sand from lakebeds. Sandsucker barges like the ALVAH S. CHISHOLM JR. were crucial to the construction industry in the Great Lakes region, providing a steady supply of sand necessary for infrastructure projects. Originally constructed as a steamer, the vessel was converted into a barge after 1928, enabling it to continue its vital role in transporting sand.
HISTORY #
The ALVAH S. CHISHOLM JR. was built in 1900 by A. Anderson in Marine City, Michigan, and initially served as a steamer before its conversion to a sandsucker barge after 1928. Throughout its career, the vessel was a key asset for the Lorain Washed Sand Co., supporting the booming construction industry in the Great Lakes area by transporting sand from Lake Erie’s lakebeds.
On May 11, 1935, the ALVAH S. CHISHOLM JR. met with misfortune when it sank while docked in Sandusky, Ohio. Although there were initial hopes that the vessel could be salvaged and repaired, these plans were ultimately thwarted by a devastating fire in May 1941. The fire broke out while the barge was moored at a dock, awaiting conversion into a breakwater. The flames quickly consumed the wooden structure, reducing the once-proud barge to ashes.
Adding to the intrigue surrounding the ALVAH S. CHISHOLM JR.’s demise, conflicting reports suggest that in 1937, the vessel may have been towed several miles out into Lake Erie and destroyed by explosives. The reasons behind this action remain unclear, creating a mystery around the final chapter of the vessel’s story.
Despite these conflicting accounts, the ALVAH S. CHISHOLM JR.’s history is also marked by its significant transformation from a steamer to a barge. This adaptation allowed the vessel to continue serving the construction industry, reflecting the dynamic and often changing nature of maritime operations on the Great Lakes.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The ALVAH S. CHISHOLM JR. was ultimately lost to a fire in 1941 while moored at a dock, although some reports suggest it may have been scuttled in 1937. The vessel’s remains now lie at the bottom of Lake Erie, a silent testament to the passage of time and the ever-changing maritime industry.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES: #
There are no currently active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specifically related to the wreck site of the ALVAH S. CHISHOLM JR. The exact location of the wreck remains unclear due to the conflicting accounts of its final moments.
LOCATED BY & DATE: #
The ALVAH S. CHISHOLM JR. sank at its dock in Sandusky, Ohio, in 1935, and was later destroyed by fire in 1941. If the conflicting reports of its scuttling are accurate, the vessel would have been intentionally sunk in Lake Erie in 1937. However, no specific discovery or survey details have been documented.
RESOURCES & LINKS: #
CONCLUSION #
The story of the ALVAH S. CHISHOLM JR. is one of resilience, adaptation, and eventual tragedy. From its construction as a steamer in 1900 to its conversion into a sandsucker barge, the vessel played a significant role in the economic development of the Great Lakes region. The ALVAH S. CHISHOLM JR.’s final years were marked by a series of unfortunate events, including a sinking at dock, a destructive fire, and conflicting reports of its scuttling. Despite its tragic end, the vessel’s history reflects the dynamic nature of maritime operations on the Great Lakes and serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by those who worked these waters.
Keywords:
Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Maritime History, Sandsucker Barge, Lake Erie, 20th Century Shipping, Shipwreck Resilience, Sandusky Ohio, Marine City Michigan, Lorain Washed Sand Co.
