Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: ANNIE P. DORR
- Type: Tugboat
- Year Built: 1870
- Builder: W. Crosthwaite, East Saginaw, Michigan
- Dimensions: 76 ft x 20 ft x 6 ft (23.2 m x 6.1 m x 1.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 44 gross tons, 22 net tons
- Location: Near Dunkirk, New York
- Official Number: U.S. Official No. 105207
- Original Owners: O.W. Cheney tug company
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled steam tug, propeller-driven
Description
The Annie P. Dorr was a small but active steam tug built for harbour and towage work, typical of the tug designs prevalent in the latter half of the 19th century on the Great Lakes. Her modest size and power made her ideal for assisting stranded or hard-to-manoeuvre vessels.
History
Constructed in 1870 in East Saginaw, Michigan, Annie P. Dorr served as part of the fleet operated by the renowned O.W. Cheney tug company, which was known for salvage and tug operations across the lower Great Lakes. She was actively involved in routine towing, salvage missions, and port work across Lake Erie and other surrounding waterways.
On November 26, 1888, she, along with the tug James Adams, sailed to Dunkirk, New York, to assist the tug Edward Maytham, which had become stranded near the harbour. However, a strong gale prevented the assisting vessels from safely entering the port. As they lingered outside the breakwaters, the Dorr began taking on water rapidly and foundered within 30 minutes. Fortunately, her crew was successfully transferred to the Adams under dangerous conditions.
Significant Incidents
- Foundered on November 26, 1888, during a gale while attempting to assist another vessel.
Final Disposition
The Annie P. Dorr sank near Dunkirk, New York. No efforts to salvage the vessel are recorded, and she is presumed to remain on the lakebed, possibly broken apart due to the storm and the shallow waters outside the harbour.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No formal wreck discovery has been reported. Presumed still lost off Dunkirk, New York.
Not marked on navigation charts. No active notices to mariners concerning the wreck. Wreck may pose a low-level hazard if remains persist near harbour approaches.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”annie-p-dorr-us-1105207″ title=”References & Links”]
For divers interested in historical shipwrecks, the Annie P. Dorr represents a significant piece of maritime history in the Great Lakes region, though its exact location remains uncertain.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: ANNIE P. DORR
- Former Names: Also recorded as ANNA P. DORR
- Registration Number(s): U.S. Official No. 105207
- Date Built & Launched: 1870
- Builder: W. Crosthwaite, East Saginaw, Michigan
- Measurements: 76 ft x 20 ft x 6 ft (23.2 m x 6.1 m x 1.8 m), 44 gross tons, 22 net tons
- Date Lost: November 26, 1888
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled steam tug, propeller-driven
Description
The Annie P. Dorr was a small but active steam tug built for harbour and towage work, typical of the tug designs prevalent in the latter half of the 19th century on the Great Lakes. Her modest size and power made her ideal for assisting stranded or hard-to-manoeuvre vessels.
History
Constructed in 1870 in East Saginaw, Michigan, Annie P. Dorr served as part of the fleet operated by the renowned O.W. Cheney tug company, which was known for salvage and tug operations across the lower Great Lakes. She was actively involved in routine towing, salvage missions, and port work across Lake Erie and other surrounding waterways.
On November 26, 1888, she, along with the tug James Adams, sailed to Dunkirk, New York, to assist the tug Edward Maytham, which had become stranded near the harbour. However, a strong gale prevented the assisting vessels from safely entering the port. As they lingered outside the breakwaters, the Dorr began taking on water rapidly and foundered within 30 minutes. Fortunately, her crew was successfully transferred to the Adams under dangerous conditions.
Final Disposition
The Annie P. Dorr sank near Dunkirk, New York. No efforts to salvage the vessel are recorded, and she is presumed to remain on the lakebed, possibly broken apart due to the storm and the shallow waters outside the harbour.
Located By & Date Found
No formal wreck discovery has been reported. Presumed still lost off Dunkirk, New York.
Notmars & Advisories
- Not marked on navigation charts
- No active notices to mariners concerning the wreck
- Wreck may pose a low-level hazard if remains persist near harbour approaches
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Maritime Database – BGSU
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- NOAA Wrecks & Obstructions
- Map: Approximate Location Near Dunkirk, NY
Suggested Keywords, Categories & Glossary
Keywords: Annie P. Dorr, tugboat wreck, Lake Erie shipwrecks, Dunkirk NY maritime history, O.W. Cheney tug fleet
Category: Tugboat / 19th Century Steam Vessel
Glossary:
- Foundered: To fill with water and sink
- Tug: A vessel used for towing or pushing other ships, especially in harbours and along canals
- Cheney Tug Fleet: A well-known commercial tug and salvage fleet operating in the Great Lakes during the 19th century
Let me know if you’d like this added to a master wreck list or mapped against known dive sites.
canada-express-2 1888-11-26 02:28:00