Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: GEORGE B. OWEN
- Type: Schooner-barge
- Year Built: 1893
- Builder: James Davidson, Hull No. 59
- Dimensions: Length: 196 ft (59.7 m); Beam: 34 ft (10.4 m); Depth of hold: 13.2 ft (4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 744 tons
- Location: Grosse Isle, Michigan, Detroit River
- Official Number: 86264
- Original Owners: E.L. Fisher of Cleveland, Ohio (after December 1906)
- Number of Masts: 3
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The GEORGE B. OWEN was a large three-masted schooner-barge, built during the transition era from sail to steam. These vessels were designed to operate as consort barges under tow by steamers, while retaining sails for auxiliary power or emergencies. They were commonly used to haul bulk commodities like coal, lumber, and ore on the Great Lakes.
Description
Built by master shipbuilder James Davidson at West Bay City, Michigan, in 1893, the GEORGE B. OWEN became a regular consort barge in the coal and lumber trades. Between 1893 and 1898, she was usually towed by the steambarge W.P. KETCHAM.
In November 1895, she lost her rudder off Thunder Bay Island on Lake Huron, but was recovered and repaired. On December 6, 1898, the vessel stranded near the piers at Ashtabula, Ohio, on Lake Erie with a load of coal, which had to be lightered off before repairs could be made.
By 1899, she was regularly paired with the steambarge SACHEM. Ownership changed in December 1906, when E.L. Fisher of Cleveland, Ohio purchased her from the Mitchell & Rowland Lumber Company in Toledo.
History
Her final loss occurred on October 1, 1926, when the GEORGE B. OWEN swamped and sank near Grosse Isle, Michigan, in the Detroit River while carrying coal. The cargo was later recovered, and in 1927 the wreck was removed to clear the navigation channel.
Significant Incidents
- November 1895: Lost rudder off Thunder Bay Island, Lake Huron; recovered and repaired.
- December 6, 1898: Stranded near piers at Ashtabula, Ohio, Lake Erie with a load of coal.
- October 1, 1926: Swamped and sank in the Detroit River.
Final Disposition
- Final Location: Grosse Isle, Michigan, Detroit River
- Date Lost: October 1, 1926
- How: Swamped and sank
- Final Cargo: Coal
- Wreck removed in 1927
Current Condition & Accessibility
No remains are known to exist today due to the 1927 wreck removal.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”george-b-owen-us-86264″ title=”References & Links”]
The GEORGE B. OWEN is a classic example of a late 19th-century schooner-barge, built to transition Great Lakes shipping from sail to steam. Her long working career and multiple incidents highlight both the challenges and resilience of vessels in coal and lumber transportation during this period.
Keywords: Schooner-barge, Great Lakes, coal trade, James Davidson, Detroit River, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, 19th-century shipwreck
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: GEORGE B. OWEN
- Official Number: 86264
- Year Built: 1893
- Built at: West Bay City, Michigan
- Builder: James Davidson, Hull No. 59
- Vessel Type: Schooner-barge
- Hull Material: Wood
- Number of Decks: 1
- Number of Masts: 3
- Dimensions
- Length: 59.7 m (196 ft)
- Beam: 10.4 m (34 ft)
- Depth: 4 m (13.2 ft)
- Gross Tonnage: 744 tons
- Net Tonnage: 706 tons
Vessel Type Description
The GEORGE B. OWEN was a large three-masted schooner-barge, built during the transition era from sail to steam. These vessels were designed to operate as consort barges under tow by steamers, while retaining sails for auxiliary power or emergencies. They were commonly used to haul bulk commodities like coal, lumber, and ore on the Great Lakes.
History
Built by master shipbuilder James Davidson at West Bay City, Michigan, in 1893, the GEORGE B. OWEN became a regular consort barge in the coal and lumber trades. Between 1893 and 1898, she was usually towed by the steambarge W.P. KETCHAM.
In November 1895, she lost her rudder off Thunder Bay Island on Lake Huron, but was recovered and repaired. On December 6, 1898, the vessel stranded near the piers at Ashtabula, Ohio, on Lake Erie with a load of coal, which had to be lightered off before repairs could be made.
By 1899, she was regularly paired with the steambarge SACHEM. Ownership changed in December 1906, when E.L. Fisher of Cleveland, Ohio purchased her from the Mitchell & Rowland Lumber Company in Toledo.
Her final loss occurred on October 1, 1926, when the GEORGE B. OWEN swamped and sank near Grosse Isle, Michigan, in the Detroit River while carrying coal. The cargo was later recovered, and in 1927 the wreck was removed to clear the navigation channel.
Final Disposition
- Final Location: Grosse Isle, Michigan, Detroit River
- Date Lost: October 1, 1926
- How: Swamped and sank
- Final Cargo: Coal
- Wreck removed in 1927
Located By & Date
No formal underwater survey noted, as the wreck was removed shortly after sinking.
NOTMARs & Advisories
None currently active.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No remains are known to exist today due to the 1927 wreck removal.
Resources & Links
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Bowling Green State University Vessels Database
Conclusion
The GEORGE B. OWEN is a classic example of a late 19th-century schooner-barge, built to transition Great Lakes shipping from sail to steam. Her long working career and multiple incidents highlight both the challenges and resilience of vessels in coal and lumber transportation during this period.
Keywords: Schooner-barge, Great Lakes, coal trade, James Davidson, Detroit River, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, 19th-century shipwreck
george-b-owen-us-86264 1926-10-01 18:45:00