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
[shotline_reference_links slug=”d-f-rose-us-35149″ title=”References & Links”]
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.
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
- Vessel Name: D.F. Rose
- Official Number: 35149
- Year Built: 1868
- Place Built: Marine City, Michigan
- Final Location: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, Lake Michigan
- Date of Final Disposition: 1910
- Cause: Dismantled and burned
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.
Operational 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
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
Located By & Date Found
- Not a wreck: Intentionally dismantled and burned—no known remains
Notmars & Advisories
- None issued—vessel decommissioned under supervision
Resources & Citations
- U.S. Vessel Enrollment & Tonnage Records (NARA)
- Lytle-Holdcamper List
- Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory
- Edward J. Dowling Collection – University of Detroit Mercy
- H.G. Runge Collection – Milwaukee Public Library
- Steamboat Inspection Records
- Labadie Collection – Thunder Bay & Great Lakes Archives
Conclusion
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.
d-f-rose-us-35149 1910-07-21 17:45:00