Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: C.M. Farrar
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1856
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: St. Clair River, between Michigan and Ontario
- Original Owners: Not conclusively recorded
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The C.M. Farrar was a wooden two-masted schooner, typical of the mid-19th century Great Lakes trade, designed for bulk cargo including grain, lumber, or general freight.
Description
Built with oak framing and pine planking, she had a single deck, a spacious hold for bulk commodities, and a fore-and-aft rig. Her shallow draft made her ideal for river navigation like the St. Clair corridor.
History
Operating for two decades, the C.M. Farrar served in the grain and lumber trades across the lower lakes. On 6 September 1876, while navigating the St. Clair River, she struck a snag (likely a submerged log or piling) and began taking on water. She quickly settled in shallow water.
Although early reports considered her a total loss due to the damage, later accounts suggest she was eventually pulled off and recovered after a couple of years, possibly rebuilt or salvaged. Exact details of her return to service are unclear.
Significant Incidents
- Struck a snag in the St. Clair River on 6 September 1876, leading to water ingress and grounding.
- Initially declared a total loss, but later reports indicate she may have been salvaged or rebuilt.
Final Disposition
Declared a constructive total loss initially, but reported to have been recovered later and refloated, though no firm details confirm her continued service.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No diver or archaeological records document any remaining wreckage, likely because she was removed or salvaged.
Resources & Links
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The C.M. Farrar‘s history illustrates the hazards of river navigation, particularly in the busy, snag-prone waters of the St. Clair. Although initially written off after striking a submerged obstruction, she may have had a second working life following her recovery, a testament to the resilience of these wooden lake schooners.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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