Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Essex
- Type: Wooden-hulled schooner-barge or barge, single-deck
- Year Built: 1860
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Burned at railroad dock on the St. Clair River; subsequently towed to Wolverine drydock
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A modest wooden schooner-barge, likely used to tow bulk freight on the St. Clair River and connected lakes. Typically unpowered, designed for hauling cargoes when towed by steam tugs.
Description
The Essex was a wooden-hulled vessel built in 1860, primarily utilized for transporting bulk freight. Its design allowed it to be towed by steam tugs, making it suitable for the commercial activities of the time.
History
In 1886, while moored at a railroad dock on the St. Clair River, Essex caught fire—possibly originating from dockside activities—and burned down to her waterline. The hull, weakened and waterlogged, was later towed to Wolverine drydock. There, further burning and abandonment sealed her fate; she was never restored or returned to service.
Significant Incidents
- 1886: Caught fire while moored at a railroad dock on the St. Clair River.
- 1886: Towed to Wolverine drydock after burning down to the waterline.
- Subsequent abandonment after further burning.
Final Disposition
No archaeological surveys or dives have recorded the wreck. Any remnants likely lie submerged near the Wolverine drydock on the St. Clair River or were dismantled during salvage and scrapping efforts.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The St. Clair River remains a busy commercial thoroughfare with shallow docks and industrial operations. Modern navigators should be aware of submerged hazards and consult up-to-date charts.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”essex-1860″ title=”References & Links”]
The Essex exemplifies the vulnerabilities of 19th-century wooden barges to fire, whether dockside or afloat. Her destruction at the St. Clair River’s railroad dock in 1886—and subsequent abandonment at Wolverine—illustrate the limited remediation capacity for such vessels. Though her physical legacy has vanished, her story persists in maritime records as a cautionary tale of industrial-era river transport.
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
- Name: Essex
- Year built: 1860
- Type: Wooden-hulled schooner-barge or barge, single-deck
- Loss date: 1886
- Location: Burned at railroad dock on the St. Clair River; subsequently towed to Wolverine drydock
- Loss type: Fire—destroyed to waterline; later abandoned
- Casualties: None recorded (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Møre)
Vessel Type & Description
A modest wooden schooner-barge, likely used to tow bulk freight on the St. Clair River and connected lakes. Typically unpowered, designed for hauling cargoes when towed by steam tugs.
Final Disposition
In 1886, while moored at a railroad dock on the St. Clair River, Essex caught fire—possibly originating from dockside activities—and burned down to her waterline. The hull, weakened and waterlogged, was later towed to Wolverine drydock. There, further burning and abandonment sealed her fate; she was never restored or returned to service.
Located By & Discovery Status
No archaeological surveys or dives have recorded the wreck. Any remnants likely lie submerged near the Wolverine drydock on the St. Clair River or were dismantled during salvage and scrapping efforts.
Notmar & Navigational Advisories
No Notices to Mariners reference this wreck. However, the St. Clair River remains a busy commercial thoroughfare with shallow docks and industrial operations—modern navigators should be aware of submerged hazards and consult up-to-date charts.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – notes Essex as a wooden barge destroyed by fire on the St. Clair River in 1886 and abandoned after towing to drydock (marshcollection.org, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Conclusion
The Essex exemplifies the vulnerabilities of 19th-century wooden barges to fire, whether dockside or afloat. Her destruction at the St. Clair River’s railroad dock in 1886—and subsequent abandonment at Wolverine—illustrate the limited remediation capacity for such vessels. Though her physical legacy has vanished, her story persists in maritime records as a cautionary tale of industrial-era river transport.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary
- Keywords: Essex barge, St. Clair River fire, Wolverine drydock wreck, 1886 barge loss
- Categories: Wooden barges, dock fires, abandoned wooden hulls
- Glossary:
- Schooner-barge: A barge with limited rigging, often towed by powered vessels.
- Destroyed to waterline: Burned down to near the deck’s base.
- Wolverine drydock: Repair facility on the St. Clair River used for salvage and maintenance.