Shotline Diving

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H.A. Root US 126195

Explore the abandoned and scuttled H.A. Root, a wooden screw steamer from 1886, with limited known details about its final resting place near Sarnia, Ontario.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: H.A. Root
  • Type: Wooden Screw Steamer
  • Year Built: 1886
  • Builder: Saugatuck, Michigan
  • Dimensions: Approx. 34 m × 7.6 m × 2.7 m
  • Registered Tonnage: 208
  • Location: Near Sarnia, Ontario
  • Coordinates: Unknown
  • Official Number: 126195
  • Original Owners: Braund & Caldwell (post-1910)
  • Number of Masts: Single-screw

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

A small to mid-sized wooden screw steamer designed for general freight and towing/utility service. Likely single-deck with minimal superstructure and open working space.

Description

The H.A. Root was built in 1886 in Saugatuck, Michigan, and served under U.S. registry until 1910. After being purchased by Braund & Caldwell of Windsor, Ontario, the vessel was barely used and failed to secure a Canadian inspection certificate.

History

Throughout her Canadian tenure, the H.A. Root was not operational and ultimately abandoned. The vessel was reportedly scuttled at Sarnia, Ontario, although no specific scuttling date has been found in public records.

Significant Incidents

  • The vessel failed to pass inspection upon arrival in Canada, leading to its abandonment.
  • Reportedly scuttled at Sarnia, likely in a near-shore location.

Final Disposition

The H.A. Root was abandoned and later scuttled at Sarnia, Ontario. The exact location of the wreck remains unknown, with no coordinates or dive reports identified.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The current underwater state and depth of the wreck remain undocumented. No known Notices to Mariners or hazard markings related to the H.A. Root have been identified.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”h-a-root-us-126195″ title=”References & Links”]

Built in 1886, the H.A. Root was transferred to Canadian ownership in 1910 but never became operational. Its abandonment and scuttling at Sarnia leave much of its story untold, with potential for further research and discovery.

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 & Site & Loss Details

  • Name: H.A. Root
  • Official Number: 126195
  • Year Built: 1886
  • Yard: Saugatuck, Michigan
  • Propulsion: Single-screw steamer
  • Gross Tonnage: 208
  • Final Outcome: Abandoned and later scuttled at Sarnia, Ontario

Construction & Vessel Description

A small to mid-sized wooden screw steamer (approx. 34 m × 7.6 m × 2.7 m), designed for general freight and towing/utility service. Likely single-deck with minimal superstructure and open working space.

Ownership & Chronology

  • Served under U.S. registry until 1910, with the same Official Number recorded in January 1910 (Crew List Index Project).
  • Post-1910: Purchased by Braund & Caldwell of Windsor, Ontario.
  • Throughout her Canadian tenure, she was barely used, if at all, failing to secure a Canadian inspection certificate.
  • Eventually abandoned and scuttled at Sarnia; no specific scuttling date has been found in public records.

Abandonment & Scuttling Details

The failure to pass inspection suggests she may have been laid up upon arrival in Canada. Despite ownership attempts, formal certification was never achieved. The owners ultimately abandoned the vessel, reportedly scuttling her at Sarnia, likely in a near-shore location.

Wreck Status & Site Condition

  • Exact location: Unknown—no coordinates, sonar data, or dive reports identified.
  • Site condition: Scuttled wreckage may lie near Sarnia; current underwater state and depth remain undocumented.

Navigational & Regulatory Notices

No known Notices to Mariners, hazard markings, or hydrographic advisories related to H.A. Root have been identified, possibly due to the wreck’s near-shore and low-risk placement.

Records & Research Opportunities

  • UK Crew List database confirms official registry detail in January 1910 (Crew List Index Project).
  • Recommended archival sources & datums:
    • Canadian certificate-of-registration files, Transport Canada for decertification records.
    • Windsor port authority manifest and inspection logs (post-1910).
    • Great Lakes Hydrographic or Canadian Notices to Mariners covering Sarnia in early 20th century.
    • Maritime museum collections in Windsor/Sarnia.

Summary

Built in 1886 in Michigan, the H.A. Root transferred to Canadian ownership in 1910. Her inability to gain operational certification rendered her inert. Ultimately abandoned and scuttled at Sarnia, little remains known of her final resting place. Recovery of detailed records or underwater surveys near Sarnia could reveal more of her story.

h-a-root-us-126195 1910-07-18 10:46:00