Fellowcraft (robert Mills – Lake Huron Barge Shipwreck (1932)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Fellowcraft (formerly Robert Mills)
• Type: Wooden Bulk Freighter, later converted to Barge
• Year Built: 1881
• Builder: Buffalo, New York
• Dimensions: 256 ft (78 m); Beam: 40.2 ft (12.25 m); Depth of hold: 23.5 ft (7.16 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 2,070 tons
• Location: Detroit River, near Ecorse, Michigan
• Official Number: US 110774
• Original Owners: L.E. Geer, Nicholson Transit Co.

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Fellowcraft, originally known as Robert Mills, was a wooden bulk freighter designed for transporting coal, iron ore, and grain on the Great Lakes. Built in 1881 in Buffalo, New York, it was later altered to function as a barge. With a sturdy wooden hull and updated boiler systems, the vessel adapted over its operational life to evolving transportation demands, including service in the burgeoning automobile trade during its later years.

Description

The Fellowcraft was a significant vessel in the Great Lakes shipping industry, known for its robust construction and versatility. Initially launched as Robert Mills, it served various cargoes, including coal and grain, before its conversion to a barge. The vessel’s operational history reflects the changing demands of maritime transport in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

History

Chronological History:

• 1881: The vessel was launched as Robert Mills in Buffalo, New York, designed for bulk cargo transport. Initially enrolled in Buffalo, serving the coal, grain, and iron ore trades on the Great Lakes.
• 1888: Renamed Fellowcraft and entered service as a bulk freighter. Involved in a collision on Lake Michigan, resulting in the sinking of the schooner William Keller and its cargo.
• 1889–1891: Towed the barge S.K. Kimball in October 1889. Sank in 19 feet (5.8 meters) of water off Bar Point in November 1891 while transporting coal to Chicago.
• 1893: Reboilering completed with two Scotch boilers (11.5 x 13 feet) at Lake Erie Boiler Works in Buffalo, increasing the ship’s operational efficiency.
• September 1894: Ran aground near Waugohance Light in the Straits of Mackinac while carrying coal.
• June 1897: Ran aground near Bois Blanc Island, Detroit River.
• November 1897/1898: Engine disabled near Chicago, Illinois.
• April 1899: Grounded again, this time near Amherstburg, Ontario.
• 1906: The vessel’s dimensions were recorded as 256 feet in length, 40.2 feet in beam, and 23.5 feet in depth. Gross tonnage: 2,070; Net tonnage: 1,712.
• 1917–1918: Owned by L.E. Geer of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Sold to Nicholson Transit Co. of Buffalo, New York, and adapted for use in the automobile trade.
• 1932: Final abandonment and dismantling occurred in Ecorse, Michigan, in the Detroit River. The vessel was scuttled as part of its disposal.

Significant Incidents

• 1888: Collision on Lake Michigan resulting in the sinking of the schooner William Keller.
• 1891: Sank while transporting coal to Chicago.
• 1894: Ran aground near Waugohance Light.
• 1897: Ran aground near Bois Blanc Island.
• 1899: Grounded near Amherstburg, Ontario.

Final Disposition

The Fellowcraft was abandoned and dismantled in the Detroit River near Ecorse, Michigan, in 1932. The site of its scuttling is not actively marked or commemorated, though its remnants contribute to the region’s maritime heritage.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) or advisories specifically associated with the Fellowcraft’s wreck site in the Detroit River.

Resources & Links

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The Fellowcraft (formerly Robert Mills) exemplifies the dynamic life cycles of Great Lakes freighters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Despite numerous groundings, collisions, and other operational challenges, the vessel served a variety of roles for over 50 years. Its final dismantling and abandonment in 1932 mark the end of an era for this robust wooden freighter, leaving a legacy intertwined with the industrial and maritime history of the Great Lakes.