Other Names
- BRISTOL
History
The Albion, originally built as the Bristol in 1862, was a wooden propeller steambarge used for bulk freight transportation. It was constructed by Wm. Saunders in Brockville, Ontario, with dimensions of 134 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, and 11 feet in depth. The vessel had a gross tonnage of 297 tons.
On October 3, 1887, the Albion, while carrying a load of lumber, encountered a combination of fog and storm near Pointe aux Barques, Michigan, on Lake Huron. The steambarge went off course and stranded on rocks northeast of Grindstone City during a westerly gale that occurred at night. The crew of the Albion, towing the schooner Ark, was rescued by the United States Life-Saving Service (USLS) stationed at Pointe aux Barques. Some of the gear and cargo were salvaged, but the Albion became a total wreck the following day. The schooner Ark, however, survived the incident.
Prior to the loss, the Albion had a history of ownership changes and incidents. It was initially owned by George Chaffee et al. in Kingston, Ontario, and underwent rebuilding after a fire in October 1875. In 1876, it was renamed the Albion after being rebuilt by A. Muir & Bros. at Port Dalhousie. The steambarge was owned by Bryce Muir of Grantham, Ontario, at the time of its loss.
Throughout its history, the Albion operated on various routes, including Montreal to Chicago in 1865 and Montreal to Hamilton, Toledo, St. Catharines, and Port Dalhousie in subsequent years. The vessel had also towed barges such as the Antelope, Albert Ross, Albicore, and Ark during different periods.
The provided information is based on historical records and sources, including newspapers such as the Port Huron Daily Times, Marine Record, and The Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, as well as government documents from the Department of Marine & Fisheries.
