Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Bryn Barge, John Fritz, John R. Roebling

Explore the submerged remnants of three historic barges repurposed as a breakwater in Mississauga, Ontario. A unique dive site with rich maritime heritage.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Bryn Barge, John Fritz, John R. Roebling
  • Type: Steel-hulled bulk barges (non-self-propelled)
  • Year Built: 1900, 1898, 1898
  • Builder: Bryn Mawr: Chicago; John Fritz & John R. Roebling: F.W. Wheeler & Co.
  • Dimensions: Approx. 412–436 ft (125–133 m) length
  • Registered Tonnage:
  • Location: Lakeview area of Mississauga, Ontario, east of Port Credit
  • Original Owners: Pittsburgh Steamship Company; Bessemer Steamship Company; Upper Lakes & St. Lawrence

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

These vessels are steel-hulled bulk barges that were not self-propelled, designed for transporting cargo across the Great Lakes.

Description

The Bryn Barge (originally Bryn Mawr), John Fritz, and John R. Roebling were constructed in the late 19th century and served as bulk carriers. They were repurposed in 1968 as part of a breakwater to protect the Lakeview Generating Station shoreline.

History

All three vessels served decades hauling bulk cargo on the upper Great Lakes. The Bryn Mawr was renamed Bryn Barge in 1962 when repurposed as grain storage in Goderich. The John Fritz and John R. Roebling continued in service until the mid-1960s. In 1968, all three hulls were stripped and sunk to create a breakwater protecting the Lakeview Generating Station shoreline at Mississauga.

Significant Incidents

  • 1962: Bryn Mawr renamed Bryn Barge for grain storage.
  • 1968: All three barges sunk to create a breakwater.

Final Disposition

The vessels now rest permanently as a steel breakwater at Mississauga’s Lakeview shoreline, serving as a protective barrier against erosion and wave action.

Current Condition & Accessibility

While specific coordinates are not publicly published, the barges are visible from shoreline paths and aerial views near Lakeview Generating Station. Divers have explored the wrecks, navigating between concrete markers to locate the barge structures.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”bryn-barge-john-fritz-john-a-roebling” title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]

The Bryn Barge, John Fritz, and John R. Roebling offer a unique glimpse into the maritime history of the Great Lakes, serving as a reminder of the region’s industrial past and the importance of coastal stewardship.

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.

Bryn Barge, John Fritz & John R. Roebling — Breakwater Barge Trio, Lakeview, Mississauga

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Vessel Names: Bryn Barge (originally Bryn Mawr), John Fritz, John R. Roebling
  • Type: Steel-hulled bulk barges (non-self-propelled)
  • Built:
  • Dimensions: Approx. 412–436 ft (125–133 m) length (modernmississauga.com)
  • Tonnage & Service:
    • Bryn Barge: Originally Bryn Mawr, part of Pittsburgh Steamship Company fleet, later Upper Lakes system (modernmississauga.com)
    • John Fritz & John R. Roebling: Owned by Bessemer Steamship Company, later Upper Lakes & St. Lawrence in 1945 (modernmississauga.com)

History & Final Disposition

  • All three vessels served decades hauling bulk cargo on the upper Great Lakes.
  • Bryn Mawr was renamed Bryn Barge in 1962 when repurposed as grain storage in Goderich. John Fritz and John R. Roebling continued in service until mid-1960s (modernmississauga.com).
  • In 1968, all three hulls were stripped and sunk to create a breakwater protecting the Lakeview Generating Station shoreline at Mississauga (modernmississauga.com).

Breakwater Site Details

  • Location: Lakeview area of Mississauga, Ontario, east of Port Credit
  • Arrangement: The three barges are aligned north–south parallel to shore:
    1. Bryn Barge (closest to shore)
    2. John Fritz
    3. John R. Roebling (farthest out) (modernmississauga.com, wrecksite.eu)
  • Purpose: Serve as a protective breakwater against erosion and wave action for the adjacent power station (modernmississauga.com)

Site Accessibility & Diving

  • While specific coordinates are not publicly published, the barges are visible from shoreline paths and aerial views near Lakeview Generating Station.
  • At least one dive forum confirms divers explore the wrecks, navigating between concrete markers and referencing a “line” off marker 13 to locate the barge structure (modernmississauga.com, scubaboard.com).

Significance

  • These hulls represent industrial recycling—retired lake freighters repurposed for shoreline defence.
  • The vessels are relics of late-19th to mid-20th-century Great Lakes freight fleets and preserve maritime and industrial heritage in situ.
  • The use of large steel barges as breakwater material exemplifies cost-effective shoreline management strategies of the era.

Resources & Links

  • Wreck Site entries: Confirm barge identities and breakwater placement (modernmississauga.com, wrecksite.eu)
  • Heritage Mississauga: Local documentation on the barges and breakwater installation
  • Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Records of vessel construction and ownership changes (modernmississauga.com)

Conclusion

The Bryn Barge, John Fritz, and John R. Roebling now rest permanently as a steel breakwater at Mississauga’s Lakeview shoreline. Once powerful bulk carriers, they protect the shore they once served—offering a silent monument to industrial Great Lakes maritime history. Accessible for shoreline viewing and occasional divers, they remain a tangible link between maritime commerce and coastal stewardship.

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