Empire US 8559

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

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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.