Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: James Bardon No. 7
- Type: Tugboat
- Year Built: 1879
- Builder: Lockport, New York
- Dimensions: 69 ft (21 m) × 15 ft (4.6 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 51 GRT, 26 NRT
- Location: Duluth Harbor, St. Louis River
- Official Number: 126850
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled steam-powered tugboat, later rebuilt and repurposed for mixed towing and light freight duties on the Great Lakes.
Description
Originally constructed as a steam tug in Lockport, New York in 1879, the vessel operated under the name James Bardon No. 7. She served as a general service tug on Lake Superior until her destruction by fire in 1890 near Duluth Harbor on the St. Louis River. The hull was rebuilt in 1892 and relaunched as the Corona. After further upgrades in 1907, she continued service under various owners and names. She was renamed Freedom in 1927, and though her operational role remained broadly similar, her final disposition is undocumented in contemporary records.
History
The James Bardon No. 7 was built in 1879 and served primarily on Lake Superior. After being destroyed by fire on November 10, 1890, she was rebuilt and renamed Corona in 1892. Following additional modifications in 1907, she was renamed Freedom in 1927. Despite her long service history, the ultimate fate of the Freedom remains unclear, with no confirmed records of her scrapping or sinking.
Significant Incidents
- James Bardon No. 7: Total loss due to fire on 10 November 1890 in Duluth Harbor.
- Corona / Freedom: Remained in service until at least 1927; no confirmed record of scrapping or sinking.
Final Disposition
The James Bardon No. 7 was lost to fire in 1890, while the later incarnations, Corona and Freedom, continued to operate until at least 1927, with no documented end to their service.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No known wreck site has been located for the James Bardon No. 7; probable remains may exist on the St. Louis River bed near Duluth. The Corona and Freedom have no recorded site or loss, but there is potential for archival or physical rediscovery.
Resources & Links
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The James Bardon No. 7, later known as Corona and Freedom, exemplifies the resilience and adaptability of Great Lakes working vessels during a transformative period in maritime history. Her story reflects the evolution of tugboats and the challenges they faced.
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: James Bardon No. 7
- Former Names: Corona, Freedom
- Official Number(s): 126850 (as Corona)
- Date Built & Launched: 1879 (as James Bardon No. 7)
- Measurements:
- As Built: 21 m × 4.6 m × 2.1 m (69 ft × 15 ft × 7 ft); 51 GRT, 26 NRT
- As Corona (1892): 19.5 m × 5 m × 2.3 m (64 ft × 16.5 ft × 7.5 ft); 27 GRT, 13 NRT
- Post-Rebuild (1907): 19.6 m × 5.2 m × 1.8 m (64.25 ft × 17 ft × 6 ft); 48 GRT, 32 NRT (1926)
- Date Lost, Destroyed, Abandoned: 1890 (destroyed by fire as James Bardon No. 7); ultimate fate of Freedom unknown
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled steam-powered tugboat, later rebuilt and repurposed for mixed towing and light freight duties on the Great Lakes.
Description
Originally constructed as a steam tug in Lockport, New York in 1879, the vessel operated under the name James Bardon No. 7. She served as a general service tug on Lake Superior until her destruction by fire in 1890 near Duluth Harbor on the St. Louis River. The hull was rebuilt in 1892 and relaunched as the Corona. After further upgrades in 1907, she continued service under various owners and names. She was renamed Freedom in 1927, and though her operational role remained broadly similar, her final disposition is undocumented in contemporary records.
Final Disposition
- James Bardon No. 7: Total loss due to fire on 10 November 1890 in Duluth Harbor.
- Corona / Freedom: Remained in service until at least 1927; no confirmed record of scrapping or sinking.
Located By & Date Found
- James Bardon No. 7: No known wreck site has been located; probable remains on St. Louis River bed near Duluth.
- Corona / Freedom: No recorded site or loss; potential exists for archival or physical rediscovery.
Notations & Advisories
No current navigational hazards or known wreck advisories associated with this vessel or its later incarnations.
Resources & Links
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Bowling Green State University Ship Database
- Great Lakes Ships
- Shipwrecks Along Lake Superior’s North Shore
- Proceedings of the Board of Supervising Inspectors
Conclusion
The James Bardon No. 7, later Corona and Freedom, represents the durability and modular lifecycle of Great Lakes working vessels in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her destruction, rebuild, and continued operation embody the resilience and adaptation of maritime commerce in a transitional technological era.
Suggested Keywords & Glossary Terms: steam tug, fire loss, vessel rebuild, Great Lakes tugboat, St. Louis River wreck
Suggested Categories: Great Lakes shipwrecks | vessel rebuilds | Lake Superior history | 19th-century tugboats