Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Empire
- Type: Wooden Great Lakes schooner, converted to a barge
- Year Built: 1844
- Builder:
- Dimensions: 255.1 ft (77.7 m) × 33.3 ft (10.1 m) × 12.7 ft (3.9 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 704 tons
- Location: Beach off Port Rowan, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 8559
- Original Owners: John & Thomas McGregor, Detroit (1867)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden Great Lakes schooner, originally built in 1844 and later converted to a barge in 1870.
Description
The Empire was a wooden schooner that underwent a conversion to a barge for bulk trade in 1870. It was primarily used for transporting lumber.
History
Built in 1844, the Empire was remeasured in 1865 to its updated dimensions. It was acquired by John & Thomas McGregor in 1867 and converted for bulk trade shortly thereafter.
Significant Incidents
- Date of Wreck: November 12, 1870
- Route: Saginaw to Buffalo
- Cargo: Lumber
- Incident Details: The vessel sprung a leak during a heavy storm on Lake Erie. The crew intentionally grounded the ship near Port Rowan, Ontario, to prevent sinking. The wreck eventually broke in two due to the wavering seas.
- Fate: Declared a total loss; enrollment officially surrendered on June 9, 1871.
- Casualties: None mentioned.
Final Disposition
The Empire was declared a total loss after the incident, and its enrollment was officially surrendered in 1871.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is reported to be broken midships and likely remains buried in sand or has been locally salvaged. No modern surveys have been noted, and it is not currently recorded in underwater heritage databases.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”empire-us-8559″ title=”References & Links”]
The Empire serves as a historical example of mid-19th-century maritime practices, illustrating the transition of wooden commerce ships to barges and the challenges faced by vessels navigating the storms of Lake Erie.
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 & Build
- Type: Wooden Great Lakes schooner, converted to a barge in 1870
- Built: 1844 (dimensions later updated in 1865 to 255.1 × 33.3 × 12.7 ft, 704 tons; U.S. Official Number 8559) (greatlakesvesselhistory.com)
- Ownership:
- Acquired by John & Thomas McGregor, Detroit (1867)
- Converted for bulk trade in 1870 (greatlakesvesselhistory.com)
Final Voyage & Loss
- Date of Wreck: November 12, 1870
- Route: Saginaw → Buffalo
- Cargo: Lumber
- Incident Details: Sprung a leak during a heavy Lake Erie storm; crew intentionally grounded her near Port Rowan, Ontario, to prevent sinking. Wreck broke in two from wavering seas (greatlakesvesselhistory.com, professionalmariner.com)
- Fate: Declared a total loss; enrollment officially surrendered June 9, 1871 (greatlakesvesselhistory.com)
- Casualties: None mentioned
Wreck & Site Condition
- Location: Beach off Port Rowan, Lake Erie
- Condition: Broken midships; likely remains buried in sand or locally salvaged. No modern surveys noted.
- Documentation Status: Not currently recorded in underwater heritage databases.
Summary Profile
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Empire |
| Built | 1844 (wooden), remeasured 1865 |
| Converted | 1870 to bulk lumber barge |
| Loss Date | Nov 12, 1870 |
| Location | Port Rowan, Lake Erie |
| Cargo | Lumber |
| Cause | Storm-induced leak; grounded and broke apart |
| Registry Status | Surrendered Jun 9, 1871 |
| Casualties | None |
Historical Significance
- Reflects mid-19th-century practice of repurposing aging vessels (conversion to barge).
- Loss illustrates the prevalence of storms off Lake Erie and the effectiveness of deliberate grounding to save crew.
- Acts as an example of Great Lakes wooden commerce-ships transitioning to barges late in life.
Research & Action Plan
- Archival Newspapers: Explore Port Huron Times, R.R. Record (Buffalo), and Ontario papers (Nov 1870–Jan 1871) for insurance, crew statements, or cargo salvage reports.
- Harbor and Ownership Logs: Investigate U.S./Canadian harbor authorities for note of the grounding, wreck confirmation, or hazard warnings.
- Underwater/Beach Survey: Conduct a shoreline survey near Port Rowan to locate timbers or ballast remnants; side-scan sonar could detect submerged sections.
- Registry & Sale Records: Obtain detailed vessel records detailing the transition from active service to grounding and final surrender.