Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Germania US 85435

Explore the history of the Germania, a steambarge that served the Great Lakes before its fiery demise in 1899.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Germania
  • Type: Steambarge
  • Year Built: 1875
  • Builder: George King
  • Dimensions: Length 136.1 ft (41.5 m); Beam 28 ft (8.5 m); Depth of hold 11.2 ft (3.4 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: Gross Tonnage: 263.1 tons; Net Tonnage: 175.7 tons
  • Location: Wharves in Ecorse, Michigan
  • Official Number: 85435
  • Original Owners: Henry Buttironi and associates; various subsequent owners
  • Number of Masts: Two auxiliary sailing masts

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Germania was a wooden-hulled steambarge characterized by a plain head and round stern, designed for towing operations.

Description

Built in 1875, the Germania measured 136.1 feet in length, 28 feet in beam, and had a depth of 11.2 feet. It was powered by a single-screw steeple compound engine with a two-cylinder configuration, rated at 320 horsepower.

History

The Germania was originally owned by Henry Buttironi and associates and was involved in towing operations throughout its service life. It changed hands multiple times, reflecting its utility in the lumber trade and harbor operations.

Significant Incidents

  • 17 January 1899: Caught fire while laid up for winter, burning to the waterline and declared a total loss.

Final Disposition

After the fire, the Germania was officially abandoned, with registry documents surrendered on 27 January 1899.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No underwater site is recorded for the Germania, as it burned in place at its wharf. Any wreckage would have remained in shallow waters or been salvaged shortly after the incident.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”germania-us-85435″ title=”References & Links”]

The Germania’s history exemplifies the lifecycle of Great Lakes steamboats, showcasing the transition in maritime technology and the impact of fire on vessel preservation.

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: Germania
  • Official Number: 85435
  • Built: 1875 in Marine City, Michigan by George King
  • Vessel Type: Steambarge (wooden hull, plain head & round stern)
  • Decks: 1
  • Power Type: Single-screw steampowered by a steeple compound engine
  • Engine: Two-cylinder, 19″ & 36″ × 30″, rated at 320 hp at 95 rpm (Dry Dock Engine Works, Detroit, 1875)
  • Boiler: One tubular boiler, 7½″ × 16′ at 50 psi
  • Masts: Two auxiliary sailing masts
  • Dimensions & Tonnage
    • Length: 136.1 ft (41.5 m)
    • Beam: 28 ft (8.5 m)
    • Depth: 11.2 ft (3.4 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 263.1 tons
  • Net Tonnage: 175.7 tons

Ownership & Operations

  • Original Owner: Henry Buttironi and associates, Marine City, MI (enrolled June 2, 1875)
  • Subsequent Owners:
    • 1876 – Worked towing schooner C. Spademan & Taylor
    • 1881 – Owned by Selah R. McLauren et al., Toledo, OH
    • 1883 – Noted for towing barges such as C.N. Johnson; involved in Lake Michigan lumber trade
    • 1886 – Boiler replaced (new firebox type)
    • 1887–1888 – Towed barges M. Botman, Wyandotte, Sprague & Case
    • 1892 – Owned by Robert J. Hannan, Bay City
    • 1895 – Purchased by F.W. Wheeler Co., Port Huron, MI
    • 1897 – Owned by W.D. Smith and Lillian A. Smith, Ecorse, MI

Final Disposition

  • Date: 17 January 1899
  • Location: Wharves in Ecorse, Michigan (Detroit River)
  • Cause: Vessel caught fire at night while laid up for winter behind owner’s home, burning to the waterline and declared a total loss
  • Aftermath: Registry officially abandoned, documents surrendered 27 January 1899

Wreck Site & Archaeological Status

As the Germania burned in place at her wharf, any wreckage would have remained in shallow waters or been salvaged soon after. No underwater site is recorded, and no dive surveys or submerged remains are known.

Notmars & Navigational Advisories

No official hazards or navigational warnings are linked to the Germania; her loss was confined to a private wharf setting.

Historical Significance & Context

The Germania stands as an example of mid‑19th‑century industrial shipping within the Great Lakes region. As a steambarge built in Michigan and powered by a steeple‑compound engine, she reflects the era’s technological transition in inland water transport—servicing commerce by towing barges for lumber haulage and harbour operations over two decades.

Resources & Links

Information drawn from registry entries, engine works records, and documented towing trade listings from Port Huron, Toledo, Bay City, and Ecorse.

Conclusion

The Germania’s quarter-century of service illustrates the lifecycle of Great Lakes steamboats: built for utility, maintained over numerous ownership changes and operational roles, before an abrupt end by fire. While no physical wreck remnants remain, her corporate and engineering history remains documented through maritime registries and steam engineering records.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

Steambarge • Steeple-compound engine • Side‑screw propulsion • Towing steamer • Great Lakes steam commerce • Marine City construction • Ecorse fire loss • 19th‑century maritime transport

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