Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Hope
- Type: Passenger ferry
- Year Built: 1870
- Builder: J. G. Campbell, Detroit, Michigan
- Dimensions: 95 ft × 25 ft × 8 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 180 (prior to rebuild), ~170 after rebuild
- Location: Lake Erie
- Official Number: 71252
- Original Owners: Detroit & Windsor Ferry Co. (1870-1895), International Ferry Co., Buffalo (1896-1921), Buffalo & Fort Erie Ferry Co. (1927)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
- Prospective Use: Passenger ferry
- Propulsion Evolution: Originally a sidewheel steamer; post-1880 rebuild retrofitted with screw propulsion.
Description
- Initial Engine: 24″ × 36″ steam engine from Detroit Locomotive Works (circa 1860)
- Post-Rebuild Engine: 16″ × 18″ engine from Kerr Bros., Walkerville, Ontario
- Vessel Measurements: Post-rebuild: 95 ft × 25 ft × 8 ft
- Tonnage: Gross registered tonnage: 180 (prior to rebuild), ~170 after rebuild
History
- Operated ferry routes between Detroit–Windsor and later Buffalo–Fort Erie, adapting to regional transit needs.
- Served into the early decades of the 20th century—evidence suggests activity through the 1910s and into the 1920s.
Significant Incidents
- 1880 Rebuild: Converted to screw propulsion and significantly refitted.
- Engine swap in 1880s: More economical, smaller engine fitted by Kerr Bros.
Final Disposition
- Method: Intentionally scuttled
- Timing & Location: Not specified in current records.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- Scuttling Details: Date, location, and circumstances of the scuttling remain unknown.
- Registry & Regulatory Sources: Vessel registry files in Canadian and U.S. archives may hold scuttling notices or de-registration documentation.
- Newspaper Coverage: Buffalo and Detroit press (late 1920s–1930s) likely reported the end of Hope, including site specifics.
- Technical Drawings & Ferry Logs: Original plans and detailed vessel logs may exist in transport or ferry company collections.
- Local Maritime Museums / Archives: Buffalo, Fort Erie, and Detroit institutions and Coast Guard registries could hold legal and photographic evidence.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”hope-us-71252″ title=”References & Links”]
Hope was a reliable cross-border ferry vessel, upgraded from sidewheel to screw propulsion in 1880. She provided vital transport services for over half a century, licensed to carry 300 passengers by 1914. Her final fate—being scuttled—remains incompletely documented.
Recommended next steps: review ferry company archives, Canadian registry records, and Buffalo/Detroit newspaper archives (circa 1920s–1930s) to locate data on Hope‘s scuttling, including precise location and rationale.
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 Info
- Name: Hope
- Official Number: 71252
- Built Year & Location: 1870, Detroit, Michigan (by J. G. Campbell)
Vessel Type
- Prospective Use: Passenger ferry
- Propulsion Evolution: Originally a sidewheel steamer; post-1880 rebuild retrofitted with screw propulsion.
Construction & Propulsion
- Initial Engine: 24″ × 36″ steam engine from Detroit Locomotive Works (circa 1860)
- Post-Rebuild Engine: 16″ × 18″ engine from Kerr Bros., Walkerville, Ontario
- Vessel Measurements:
- Post-rebuild: 95 ft × 25 ft × 8 ft
- Tonnage:
- Gross registered tonnage: 180 (prior to rebuild), ~170 after rebuild
Ownership Timeline
| Year | Owner | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1870–1895 | Detroit & Windsor Ferry Co. | U.S. to Canadian service |
| 1896–1921 | International Ferry Co., Buffalo | Cross-border service |
| 1927 | Buffalo & Fort Erie Ferry Co. | Last known operator |
- Licensed to carry 300 passengers in 1914 records.
Rebuilds & Modifications
- 1880 Rebuild: Converted to screw propulsion and significantly refitted.
- Engine swap in 1880s: More economical, smaller engine fitted by Kerr Bros.
Service History
- Operated ferry routes between Detroit–Windsor and later Buffalo–Fort Erie, adapting to regional transit needs.
- Served into the early decades of the 20th century—evidence suggests activity through the 1910s and into the 1920s.
Final Disposition
- Method: Intentionally scuttled
- Timing & Location: Not specified in current records.
Research Gaps & Next Steps
- Scuttling Details:
- Date, location, and circumstances of the scuttling remain unknown.
- Registry & Regulatory Sources:
- Vessel registry files in Canadian and U.S. archives may hold scuttling notices or de-registration documentation.
- Newspaper Coverage:
- Buffalo and Detroit press (late 1920s–1930s) likely reported the end of Hope, including site specifics.
- Technical Drawings & Ferry Logs:
- Original plans and detailed vessel logs may exist in transport or ferry company collections.
- Local Maritime Museums / Archives:
- Buffalo, Fort Erie, and Detroit institutions and Coast Guard registries could hold legal and photographic evidence.
Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Launch | 1870 Detroit, sidewheel steamer |
| Rebuild | 1880 refit to screw propulsion |
| Dimensions | 95 × 25 × 8 ft |
| Tonnage | ~170 GRT post-rebuild |
| Ownership | Detroit & Windsor → Buffalo ferries |
| Passenger License | 300 passengers (by 1914) |
| Disposition | Scuttled (date & site pending) |
Conclusion
Hope was a reliable cross-border ferry vessel, upgraded from sidewheel to screw propulsion in 1880. She provided vital transport services for over half a century, licensed to carry 300 passengers by 1914. Her final fate—being scuttled—remains incompletely documented.
Recommended next steps: review ferry company archives, Canadian registry records, and Buffalo/Detroit newspaper archives (circa 1920s–1930s) to locate data on Hope‘s scuttling, including precise location and rationale. If you’d like, I can initiate targeted archive or newspaper research.
hope-us-71252 1927-07-17 14:28:00