Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Dundurn
- Type: Wooden Barge, Bulk Freight
- Year Built: 1882
- Builder: Detroit Dry Dock, Wyandotte, MI | Hull #60
- Dimensions: 213 ft (64.9 m) x 33 ft (10.1 m) x 12 ft (3.7 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 1,120 Gross Tons
- Location: Just outside the harbour at Ashtabula, Ohio
- Official Number: C112207 (formerly U.S. No. 120500)
- Original Owners: Canadian owners after 1906
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Dundurn was originally built in 1882 as a wooden propeller steamer designed for break-bulk cargo and passenger transport. She was never a railroad car ferry, despite some confusion due to her early name. In 1906, she was sold to Canadian owners, lengthened by 35 feet (10.7 m), and converted into a barge, removing her engines and relying on tugboats for towing. This modification extended her operational life but made her more vulnerable to storms, as she no longer had propulsion to maneuver in heavy weather.
Description
Originally built as Flint & Pere Marquette #2, the vessel was part of the growing Great Lakes freight and passenger trade. She was designed to transport various cargoes, including coal, lumber, and general goods.
Her most dramatic survival story occurred in March 1885, when she stranded mid-Lake Michigan in a winter storm. Part of her crew and passengers walked 30 miles to Ludington, MI, in freezing conditions to seek rescue.
After her 1906 conversion to a barge, the vessel primarily carried coal across the Great Lakes, towed by various steam tugs.
Significant Incidents
- Loss of two crew members during the sinking.
- Stranded in a winter storm in March 1885, leading to a dramatic rescue.
Final Disposition
On July 15, 1919, Dundurn was being towed by the steam tug Home Rule on Lake Erie, carrying a heavy coal load.
As the convoy neared Ashtabula, Ohio, a violent summer gale swept across the lake. The Dundurn began taking on water, unable to counteract the force of the storm. With no engines to help maneuver, she was at the mercy of the waves. Within hours, she foundered and sank just outside Ashtabula Harbour.
Two crew members were lost, likely trapped as the vessel went down. The remaining crew escaped on lifeboats and were rescued by their tow vessel, Home Rule.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Status: Unconfirmed – the wreck has not been officially located.
Possible location: Just outside Ashtabula Harbor, Lake Erie.
Given Lake Erie’s relatively shallow depths, the Dundurn may remain well-preserved beneath layers of sediment.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”dundurn-flint-pere-marquette-2-f-p-m-2us-120500c-112207″ title=”References & Links”]
The Dundurn represents a transition in Great Lakes shipping history, beginning her career as a steam-powered cargo and passenger vessel before being converted to a towed barge. While this conversion extended her service life, it also left her vulnerable in storms, leading to her final loss in 1919.
Her survival story in 1885 and tragic ending in 1919 highlight the risks faced by Great Lakes sailors.
As shipwreck search technology improves, the Dundurn’s resting place may one day be discovered, bringing her full story to light.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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