Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Akron
- Type: Propeller
- Year Built: 1859
- Builder: Quayle & Martin
- Dimensions: 135.03 ft (41.2 m); Beam: 22.7 ft (6.9 m); Depth of hold: 11.27 ft (3.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 367 tons
- Location: Near Collin’s Dock, 5 miles above Alexandria Bay
- Official Number: 394
- Original Owners: Philo Chamberlin & John H. Crawford, Cleveland; operated by the Northern Transportation Co.
- Number of Masts: 1
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Akron was a wooden propeller-driven vessel designed for cargo and passenger transportation across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Its screw propulsion and spacious design were considered state-of-the-art for the time.
Description
The Akron was a vital part of the Northern Transportation Co.’s fleet, facilitating trade and passenger services on key routes across the Great Lakes and into the St. Lawrence River.
History
1859: Launched and enrolled in Cleveland, Ohio. The vessel began service on the company’s established trade routes.
1860–1866: Operated regularly between Ogdensburg, NY, and Cleveland, Ohio, with extensions to Toledo and Detroit.
1871: The vessel caught fire but was scuttled to save it from total destruction. It was later raised and repaired, resuming its services on the Great Lakes.
Significant Incidents
The Akron was well-known for its resilience, surviving incidents that would have ended the service life of many vessels of its kind.
Final Disposition
The Akron met its end in September 1873. While docked at Collin’s Dock on the St. Lawrence River, the Akron caught fire. The crew’s attempts to save the vessel were unsuccessful, and it was declared a total loss.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is presumed to have been destroyed or rendered inaccessible, with no notable remnants documented in recent years.
Resources & Links
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The Akron exemplifies the era’s wooden propeller-driven vessels, integral to the economic and transportation systems of the Great Lakes. Despite its loss to fire in 1873, the vessel’s operational resilience and history remain a testament to the innovation and determination of Great Lakes maritime industries during the 19th century.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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