Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Cedarville (originally A.F. Harvey)
- Type: Steel-hulled bulk freighter
- Year Built: 1927
- Builder: Great Lakes Engineering Works, River Rouge, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length 580 ft (176.8 m); Beam 60 ft (18.3 m); Depth 32 ft (9.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 8,685 gross tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 36.6 m / 120 ft
- Location: Lake Huron, ~3 miles east of Mackinac Bridge
- Coordinates: 45°47'17"N, 84°39'29"W
- Official Number: US 226744
- Original Owners: Pittsburgh Steamship Co. (1927–1957); Bradley Transportation Division, U.S. Steel (1957–1965)
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Cedarville was a steel bulk freighter, originally launched as the A.F. Harvey. After a significant rebuild in 1957, she became a self-unloader, enhancing her operational capabilities.
Description
The Cedarville was launched in 1927 as the A.F. Harvey for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company (U.S. Steel). With a length of 580 ft and a gross tonnage of nearly 8,700, she was designed for heavy bulk cargo service on the Great Lakes. Following her 1957 conversion at DeFoe Shipbuilding in Bay City, Michigan, she was renamed Cedarville, allowing her to discharge cargo without the need for dockside equipment, thus increasing her efficiency as a carrier for the Bradley Transportation fleet.
History
Initially serving U.S. Steel’s Pittsburgh Steamship fleet, the A.F. Harvey transported ore, coal, and stone across the Great Lakes. After her conversion in 1957, she became part of the Bradley Transportation Division, primarily transporting limestone from Calcite, near Rogers City, Michigan, to steel mills throughout the Great Lakes.
Significant Incidents
On 7 May 1965, the Cedarville departed Calcite loaded with limestone bound for Gary, Indiana. Heavy fog enveloped the Straits of Mackinac, severely limiting visibility. Despite these conditions, the vessel maintained speed and collided with the Norwegian freighter Topdalsfjord approximately 3 miles east of the Mackinac Bridge at around 9:50 a.m. The collision resulted in a significant breach on her port side, leading to her sinking within 40 minutes. The German freighter Weissenburg was instrumental in rescuing the majority of the survivors.
Final Disposition
The Cedarville capsized and sank in approximately 120 ft (36.6 m) of water, resulting in the loss of ten crew members, while 25 survived. The wreck lies on its starboard side, with the bow partially separated. The U.S. Coast Guard investigated the incident, attributing fault to the vessel’s master for navigating at excessive speed in dense fog. Today, the site is recognized as one of the premier deep wreck dives within the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Cedarville is well-documented through diver photography, videography, and sonar surveys. It remains largely intact and is protected within the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve. Divers are encouraged to follow local regulations and practice no-touch documentation methods to preserve the site.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”cedarville-a-f-harveyus-226492″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
As a diver, you can explore the Cedarville while adhering to the principle of ‘leave only bubbles, take only memories.’ Remember to respect the site and its history, ensuring that it remains a valuable resource for future generations.
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.
Identification Card (SLD)
Other Names: A.F. Harvey (1927–1957)
Official Number: US 226744
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Steel-hulled bulk freighter (self-unloader after 1957 conversion)
Builder: Great Lakes Engineering Works, River Rouge, Michigan
Year Built: 1927
Dimensions: Length 580 ft (176.8 m); Beam 60 ft (18.3 m); Depth 32 ft (9.8 m)
Tonnage: 8,685 gross tons
Cargo on Final Voyage: Limestone
Date of Loss: 7 May 1965
Location: Lake Huron, ~3 miles east of Mackinac Bridge
Coordinates: 45°47′17″N, 84°39′29″W
Depth: ~120 ft (36.6 m)
Home Port: Rogers City, Michigan
Owners: Pittsburgh Steamship Co. (1927–1957); Bradley Transportation Division, U.S. Steel (1957–1965)
Crew: 35
Casualties: 10 fatalities, 25 survivors
Description
The Cedarville was a steel bulk freighter, launched in 1927 as the A.F. Harvey for the Pittsburgh Steamship Company (U.S. Steel). At 580 ft in length and nearly 8,700 gross tons, she was built for heavy bulk cargo service on the Great Lakes. In 1957, she was rebuilt at DeFoe Shipbuilding in Bay City, Michigan, as a self-unloader and renamed Cedarville. This conversion allowed her to discharge cargo without dockside equipment, making her a versatile and efficient carrier for the Bradley Transportation fleet.
History
From her launch as A.F. Harvey, the freighter served U.S. Steel’s Pittsburgh Steamship fleet, hauling ore, coal, and stone across the Great Lakes. After her 1957 rebuild into a self-unloader, she became part of the Bradley Transportation Division, hauling limestone out of Calcite, near Rogers City, Michigan, to steel mills around the Great Lakes.
On 7 May 1965, the Cedarville departed Calcite loaded with limestone for Gary, Indiana. Heavy fog settled over the Straits of Mackinac, reducing visibility to near zero. Despite conditions, the vessel proceeded at speed. At approximately 9:50 a.m., she collided with the Norwegian freighter Topdalsfjord about 3 miles east of the Mackinac Bridge. The impact tore a massive hole in her port side, causing her to list heavily and sink within 40 minutes. The German freighter Weissenburg rescued most of the survivors.
Final Disposition
The Cedarville capsized and sank in 120 ft (36.6 m) of water. Ten crew members perished, while 25 survived. The wreck remains on the bottom of Lake Huron, lying on her starboard side, with her bow section partially separated. The loss was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard, which faulted the Cedarville‘s master for excessive speed in dense fog. The site is today one of the best-known deep wreck dives in the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck’s location was known immediately after the sinking in May 1965. Divers have extensively explored the site since the late 20th century. It is charted and protected within the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve.
Notmars & Advisories
No current Notices to Mariners are issued for the wreck. Divers are advised to consult local maritime authorities and preserve regulations before visiting the site.
Dive Information
Access: Boat dive (Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve)
Entry Point: St. Ignace or Mackinaw City harbors
Conditions: Cold water, thermoclines, variable visibility, strong currents possible
Depth Range: 90–120 ft (27–36 m)
Emergency Contacts: U.S. Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie; Mackinac County EMS
Permits: No permits required for non-intrusive dives; artifact removal prohibited
Dive Support: Local charters operate from Mackinaw City and St. Ignace
Crew & Casualty Memorials
Ten crew members were lost:
Frank Lamp – Chief Engineer (Rogers City, MI)
Reinhold Radtke – Third Asst. Engineer (Rogers City, MI)
Wilbert Bredow – Steward (Rogers City, MI)
Edward Jungman – Deck Watchman (Frederic, MI)
Arthur Fuhrman – Deck Watchman (Rogers City, MI)
Stanley Haske – Wheelsman (Rogers City, MI)
William Asam – Wheelsman (Rogers City, MI)
Charles Cook – Third Mate (Rogers City, MI)
Eugene Jones – Stoker (Rogers City, MI)
Hugh Wingo – Oiler (Rogers City, MI)
25 crew members survived, including Capt. Martin Joppich and others, many from Rogers City, Michigan. Memorials exist in Rogers City, MI, commemorating the Cedarville crew alongside those of the Daniel J. Morrell and Carl D. Bradley.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“At about 9:50 a.m., the freighters collided in dense fog. The Cedarville was struck on her port side and foundered within 40 minutes, taking 10 men to their deaths.”
— U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation, 1965
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
U.S. Official Number: 226744.
Registered to Pittsburgh Steamship Company, Cleveland, OH (1927–1957).
Re-enrolled to Bradley Transportation Division of U.S. Steel in 1957 following conversion at DeFoe Shipbuilding.
Declared a total constructive loss after May 1965 sinking.
Insurance records noted payout to U.S. Steel; vessel struck from registry in 1965.
Site Documentation & Imaging
The wreck is well-documented through diver photography, videography, and sonar surveys. It lies largely intact, resting on its starboard side. Multiple dive groups and the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve maintain imagery and mapping data. NOAA includes the Cedarville in its Great Lakes maritime heritage archives.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL) – Cedarville
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- GreatLakesShips.org – Topdalsfjord collision partner
- U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation (1965)
- ShipwreckWorld: Cedarville wreck site
References
- Great Lakes Vessel Histories. “Cedarville (ex-A.F. Harvey).” Bowling Green State University / HCGL Database.
- U.S. Coast Guard. Marine Board of Investigation Report on collision of SS Cedarville and MV Topdalsfjord, May 1965.
- Stonehouse, Frederick. The Wreck of the Cedarville. Avery Color Studios, 1986.
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: A.F. Harvey (1927–1957)
Official Number: 226744
Coordinates: 45°47′17″N, 84°39′29″W
Depth: ~120 ft (36.6 m)
Location Description: Straits of Mackinac, Lake Huron, ~3 miles east of Mackinac Bridge
Vessel Type: Steel bulk freighter, self-unloader
Material: Steel
Dimensions: Length 580 ft; Beam 60 ft; Depth 32 ft; 8,685 GT
Condition: Intact hull lying on starboard side, bow partly separated
Cause of Loss: Collision with MV Topdalsfjord in dense fog
Discovery Date: 7 May 1965
Discovered By: Immediately known post-collision
Method: Surface observation, survivor reports
Legal Notes: Declared total loss; struck from U.S. registry 1965
Hazards: Strong currents, entanglement risks, overhead environments
Permits Required: No for recreational diving; yes for artifact recovery (prohibited)
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