ST. LAWRENCE C33474

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IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #

Name: ST. LAWRENCE
Type: Propeller Vessel
Built: 1848, Oswego, New York
Builder: George S. Weeks
Original Owner: M.W. Browne, Hamilton, Ontario
Dimensions (Initial): Length: 125.3 feet (38.2 meters), Beam: 25.4 feet (7.7 meters), Depth: 10.6 feet (3.2 meters)
Dimensions (Post-1852): Length: 147 feet (44.8 meters), Beam: 24 feet (7.3 meters), Depth: 8 feet (2.4 meters)
Tonnage: 336.115 tons (old measurement system)
Capacity: 11,000 bushels
Enrollment: June 30, 1848, Oswego, New York
Canadian Registration Number: C33474 (after 1852)

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #

The ST. LAWRENCE was a wooden-hulled, single-deck propeller vessel, a type commonly used in the mid-19th century for transporting bulk goods such as grain across the Great Lakes. Propeller vessels were an advancement over earlier steam-powered ships, allowing for more efficient and reliable navigation of the lakes. The vessel’s design emphasized cargo capacity and stability, essential for its primary role in the grain trade between Oswego and Chicago.

HISTORY #

The ST. LAWRENCE embarked on its maiden voyage in 1848, serving primarily in the grain trade. The vessel’s history is marked by several ownership changes and numerous incidents over its nearly three-decade service. In 1850, ownership passed to Moses & E.G. Merrick of Oswego. A year later, the vessel collided with the brig PILGRIM in the Detroit River, marking the first of many challenges the ship would face.

In December 1852, the vessel was sold to Canadian owners, which led to its re-registration and modification in size. The ST. LAWRENCE became a prominent player in the Montreal-Chicago route, but not without encountering several difficulties, including running aground at the mouth of the Niagara River in 1855 and sustaining damage while navigating the St. Lawrence River rapids in 1858.

FINAL DISPOSITION #

The ST. LAWRENCE endured many trials throughout its operational life, but it met its final fate on October 19, 1878, when the hull was destroyed by fire near Cardinal, Ontario. This was after a series of incidents that included sinking in the St. Lawrence River in 1867, being refloated and repaired, and eventually being holed near Point Pelee in August 1878. Despite efforts to keep it operational, the ship could not be saved after the fire, marking the end of its long and storied history.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #

The ST. LAWRENCE’s final resting place near Cardinal, Ontario, remains significant in the annals of Great Lakes maritime history. The exact location of the wreck, if identifiable, could be of interest to researchers and divers, but no further details are available regarding its current condition or accessibility.