Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Golden Age
- Type: Schooner-barge
- Year Built: 1882
- Builder: Valentine Fries and Charles Hubbard
- Dimensions: 278 ft (84.9 m); Beam 38.8 ft; Depth of hold 20 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 1,846.96 GRT / 1,763.79 NRT
- Location: Put-in-Bay, South Bass Island, Ontario, Lake Erie
- Original Owners: Valentine Fries & Charles Hubbard; later linked to Pringle Barge Line
- Number of Masts: Four
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled, schooner-barge with four masts, one deck, designed for carrying massive bulk cargo.
Description
The Golden Age was built in 1882 by Valentine Fries and Charles Hubbard at Abbott’s Bridge (Milan), OH. It was notable for its size and cargo capacity, being one of the largest sailing vessels of its time.
History
Initially owned by Valentine Fries & Charles Hubbard, the Golden Age served the Great Lakes grain and bulk mineral routes with regular voyages out of Sandusky, OH, starting in June 1883. It suffered grounding incidents near Chicago (1884), Point aux Pelee (1887), and the Detroit River (1894), but was refloated each time and returned to service. In 1913, ownership was linked to Pringle Barge Line, and the vessel underwent rebuilding in 1918.
Significant Incidents
- Grounded near Chicago in 1884.
- Grounded near Point aux Pelee in 1887.
- Grounded in the Detroit River in 1894.
Final Disposition
In 1923, the Golden Age was deliberately scuttled at Put-in-Bay, South Bass Island, Ontario, on the Lake Erie side, to serve as protective ballast or a breakwater structure. Its final resting location is part of Put-in-Bay’s submerged breakwater, accessible at shallow depth and visible in local preservation surveys.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is located off South Bass Island, Lake Erie, lying atop a shallow bottom as part of Put-in-Bay’s breakwater. The structural remains are largely intact, with the wood hull clearly visible and buoyed by calm waters. The wreck is well-known locally, occasionally photographed from shore, and frequently visited by kayakers and low-impact diving teams.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”golden-age-1882″ title=”References & Links”]
The Golden Age represents a significant piece of maritime history, showcasing late-19th-century vessel design and adaptation. Its remains serve both as a historical artifact and a practical seawall, offering rich opportunities for research, documentation, and heritage interpretation.
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.
Identification & Construction
- Built: 1882 by Valentine Fries (and Charles Hubbard) at Abbott’s Bridge (Milan), OH (some records note Huron, OH)
- Type: Wooden-hulled, schooner-barge with four masts, one deck, designed for carrying massive bulk cargo
- Dimensions: 278′ length × 38.8′ beam × 20′ depth
- Tonnage: 1,846.96 GRT / 1,763.79 NRT
- Cargo Capacity: Around 3,360 tons or about 120,000 bushels; once carried 100,000 bushels of corn and 2,504 tons of iron ore on a single voyage—remarkable for a sailing vessel of its time (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Ownership & Service Record
- Owned by Valentine Fries & Charles Hubbard, Milan, OH
- Built as the largest sailing vessel of its time; recorded significant cargo in June 1883
- Served the Great Lakes grain and bulk mineral routes with regular voyages out of Sandusky, OH (first enrolled June 1883)
- Suffered grounding incidents near Chicago (1884), Point aux Pelee (1887), and Detroit River (1894), each time refloated and returned to service
- Ownership in 1913 linked to Pringle Barge Line; underwent rebuilding in 1918
Final Disposition
- 1923: Deliberately scuttled at Put-in-Bay, South Bass Island, Ontario side of Lake Erie
- Purpose: To serve as protective ballast or a breakwater structure
- Final resting location is part of Put-in-Bay’s submerged breakwater—accessible at shallow depth, protected, and visible in local preservation surveys
Wreck Site & Condition
- Located off South Bass Island, Lake Erie
- Site lies atop a shallow bottom and functions as part of Put-in-Bay’s breakwater
- Structural remains are largely intact; wood hull remains clearly visible and buoyed by calm waters
- The wreck is well-known locally and occasionally photographed from shore; frequently visited by kayakers and low-impact diving teams
Historical Significance
- Built for maximum bulk capacity—an extreme example of late-19th-century composite barge design
- One of the largest sailing grain barges on the Great Lakes, playing a key role in U.S. grain and mineral shipping
- Eventually repurposed to serve as breakwater—a poignant example of 19th-century vessel lifecycle adaptation
- Forms part of Put-in-Bay’s underwater cultural heritage and shoreline preservation efforts
Research & Conservation Opportunities
| Focus | Opportunity |
|---|---|
| Sonar / Photogrammetric Survey | Map current structural integrity and erosion rates |
| Archival Study | Inspect national and Michigan Great Lakes shipping archives for cargo logs, ownership records, 1918 rebuild documents |
| Historical Dockyard Records | Investigate records of Propeller Wreck files for grounding and repair documentation in the 1880s–1890s |
| Public Outreach | Collaborate with Presque Isle, Put-in-Bay Heritage Commission for site interpretation and signage |
Summary
The Golden Age was a record-setting 1882 schooner-barge built for maximum payload in grain and ore shipments. It weathered decades of service and multiple maritime incidents before being intentionally scuttled in 1923 at Put‑in‑Bay to stabilize a breakwater in Lake Erie. Today, its remains are both a historical artifact and practical seawall, offering rich opportunities for research, documentation, and heritage interpretation.
golden-age-1882 1923-07-18 15:59:00