D.F. Rose US 35149

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: D.F. Rose
• Type: Wooden tow barge (initially a barge, later upgraded to steambarge)
• Year Built: 1868
• Builder: George Koening
• Dimensions: Length 140 ft (42.67 m); Beam 26 ft; Depth of hold 11 ft
• Registered Tonnage: 258.82 gross; 203.89 net
• Location: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
• Official Number: 35149
• Original Owners: Gregory J. Francis et al., William Robertson, Grace E. Robertson

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

• Type: Wooden tow barge (initially a barge, later upgraded to steambarge)
• Rigging: Unrigged (0 masts)
• Service: Lumber transport, pulpwood, barge train operations

Description

The D.F. Rose was a wooden-hulled barge constructed by George Koening for Gregory J. Francis et al. of Marine City, Michigan. Designed for heavy bulk freight service, particularly in the lumber industry, she measured:

• Length: 140 feet
• Beam: 26 feet
• Depth: 11 feet
• Gross Tonnage: 258.82
• Net Tonnage: 203.89
• Cargo Capacity: Approximately 325,000 board feet of lumber

In 1870, she was upgraded to a steambarge, reportedly fitted with a high-pressure engine. Over her career, she underwent multiple overhauls and rebuilds, including a major engine upgrade in 1899 with a 330 HP steeple compound engine by S.F. Hodge Engine Works.

History

• 1868: Launched March 28, towed by R. Prindiville
• 1870s–1880s: Operated primarily in the Great Lakes lumber trade; towed numerous barges including TWILIGHT, MOHAWK, WOLVERINE, TRANSPORT, QUEEN CITY, and OSCAR BELL
• 1876: Burned and scuttled near Tonawanda, NY—later recovered and rebuilt
• 1882: Rebuilt with new HPNC engine and tubular boiler
• 1890s: Towed consorts in extensive barge chains, including groundings at Garden City Light Reef (1895) and Starve Island Reef (1902)
• 1901–1902: Chartered by the Sulfite Fibre Company for pulpwood service from Georgian Bay to Sault Ste. Marie and Detroit
• 1903–1907: Owned by William Robertson (Frankfort, MI) and later Grace E. Robertson (Manistee, MI)
• 1902: Incident off Scarecrow Island with barge fleet; later released and towed to Put-in-Bay

Significant Incidents

• Burned and scuttled near Tonawanda, NY in 1876, later recovered and rebuilt.
• Groundings at Garden City Light Reef in 1895 and Starve Island Reef in 1902.

Final Disposition

• 1910: Officially dismantled and burned at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
• Machinery Salvage: Engine and equipment transferred to the tug Leathem D. Smith
• Documents Surrendered: July 24, 1910

Current Condition & Accessibility

• Not a wreck: Intentionally dismantled and burned—no known remains

Resources & Links

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The D.F. Rose represents the evolution of 19th-century bulk freight vessels on the Great Lakes—shifting from unpowered barges to self-propelled steamers. Her long operational life, numerous rebuilds, and eventual dismantling reflect the practical re-use and rugged wear of wooden lake vessels. Though no wreckage remains, her contribution to regional lumber and pulp logistics was significant over four decades.