Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

A. Gebhartdt (1869)

The A. Gebhartdt was a wooden steambarge that succumbed to a fire while docked in 1909, reflecting the fire hazards of wooden vessels in Great Lakes commerce.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: A. GEBHARDT
  • Type: Wooden steambarge
  • Year Built: 1869
  • Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Location: Drummond Island, Michigan
  • Original Owners: H.R. Harvey of Detroit

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden steambarge

Description

The A. GEBHARDT was a wooden steambarge built in 1869. While detailed measurements are not available in official records, vessels of this type typically measured between 30 and 45 metres (100 to 150 feet) in length and were used extensively for transporting lumber and bulk freight on the Great Lakes. The vessel served for approximately 40 years.

History

The A. GEBHARDT operated primarily in the Lake Huron region, under the ownership of H.R. Harvey of Detroit. Her primary cargoes included cedar posts, a valuable commodity for fencing and construction in the early 20th century. Like many wooden freighters of the time, she played a crucial supporting role in the timber and construction economy across northern Michigan and Ontario.

Significant Incidents

On June 4, 1909, while docked at Drummond Island, Michigan, the A. GEBHARDT was being loaded with cedar posts when a fire was discovered aboard. The fire spread quickly through the dry wooden structure and cargo, consuming the vessel completely. No one was aboard at the time of the fire, and there were no reported injuries or fatalities. The cause of the blaze remains undocumented.

Final Disposition

There is no recorded discovery or survey of the A. GEBHARDT wreck. It is presumed to have been entirely destroyed by fire at dockside with no significant remains.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No navigational warnings or official advisories are currently associated with the A. GEBHARDT.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

Though not a dramatic loss at sea, the destruction of the A. GEBHARDT reflects the fire hazards faced by wooden-hulled steam vessels in Great Lakes ports. A common but critical vessel type in the timber trade, her story represents the unsung infrastructure of lakes commerce. Her loss at Drummond Island contributes to a pattern of similar dockside disasters during the era.