Shotline Diving

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J.S. Ruby US 76233

Explore the remains of the J.S. Ruby, a wooden steam barge lost to fire in 1891, located in the St. Clair River near the Michigan-Ontario border.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: J.S. Ruby
  • Type: Wooden steam barge
  • Year Built: 1881
  • Builder: Ruby & Friend
  • Dimensions: 107 × 22 × 7 ft; gross tonnage ~129 ft, net ~89 ft
  • Registered Tonnage: ~129 ft
  • Location: Near Stag Island, St. Clair River, Ontario/Michigan border
  • Official Number: 76233
  • Original Owners: Ruby & Flumer, Mt. Clemens, MI
  • Number of Masts: Unrigged

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

J.S. Ruby was a small wooden steam barge, likely unrigged, and designed for hauling light bulk cargoes. Built in 1881 during the transition from sail to steam logistics, she represents a late-19th-century cargo-steamer design used for local freight service, typically operated under tow or under her own modest steam power.

Description

The J.S. Ruby was a wooden steam barge that served the Michigan–Ontario freight corridor. She was designed for carrying light bulk cargoes and was launched in 1881. The vessel was approximately 107 feet long, 22 feet wide, and had a depth of 7 feet. At the time of her loss, she had a gross tonnage of around 129 tons and a net tonnage of approximately 89 tons.

History

  • Launched in 1881 by Ruby & Friend at Fair Haven, MI, the Ruby served the Michigan–Ontario freight corridor, likely under a regional operator or owned locally in Mt. Clemens.
  • On 10 November 1891, while bound from Mt. Clemens, MI to Tawas Bay, MI, the vessel caught fire at night on the St. Clair River near Stag Island. She was beached and subsequently burned to a total loss.
  • Ownership at time of loss: Ruby & Flumer, Mt. Clemens, MI; vessel insured at ~$8,000 value at loss time.
  • Remains were deliberately removed by Canadian authorities in late 1958 (September–October) as the wreck posed a hazard to small craft navigation.

Significant Incidents

  • 10 November 1891: Caught fire and was beached to prevent sinking.
  • 1958: Wreck remains removed by authorities to mitigate navigational hazards.

Final Disposition

The J.S. Ruby was catastrophically destroyed by fire. She was intentionally grounded (“beached”) to prevent sinking in deeper water. All machinery, structure, and woody remains were consumed by fire, leaving no recoverable hull. The site later persisted as a navigational hazard until cleared in 1958.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No known modern archaeological rediscovery or side-scan imaging of the wreck has occurred. Post-loss, no systematic underwater survey appears documented. The removal of wreck remnants by authorities in 1958 likely precludes modern site investigation.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”j-s-ruby-us-76233″ title=”References & Links”]

The J.S. Ruby exemplifies mid-to-late 19th-century steam-barge construction—built primarily for light freight carriage in confined waterways like the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair. In November 1891, she caught fire during passage and was burned to a hull beyond salvage. No lives were lost, and contemporary actions included beached abandonment. The wreck remained in place until removed in 1958 for safety reasons. There is no known modern dive or documentation effort; thus, archaeological information is limited to registry and incident reports.

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.

Wooden Propeller‑Driven Bulk Freight Steam Barge — St. Clair River / Lake St. Clair, Michigan–Ontario

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

Vessel Type Description

J.S. Ruby was a small wooden steam barge, likely unrigged, and designed for hauling light bulk cargoes. Built in 1881 during the transition from sail to steam logistics, she represents a late-19th‑century cargo-steamer design used for local freight service, typically operated under tow or under her own modest steam power.

History & Chronology

  • Launched in 1881 by Ruby & Friend at Fair Haven, MI, the Ruby served the Michigan–Ontario freight corridor, likely under a regional operator or owned locally in Mt. Clemens.
  • On 10 November 1891, while bound from Mt. Clemens, MI to Tawas Bay, MI, the vessel caught fire at night on the St. Clair River near Stag Island. She was beached and subsequently burned to a total loss.
  • Ownership at time of loss: Ruby & Flumer, Mt. Clemens, MI; vessel insured at ~$8,000 value at loss time (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, marshcollection.org)
  • Remains were deliberately removed by Canadian authorities in late 1958 (September–October) as the wreck posed a hazard to small craft navigation (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Final Disposition

The J.S. Ruby was catastrophically destroyed by fire. She was intentionally grounded (“beached”) to prevent sinking in deeper water. All machinery, structure, and woody remains were consumed by fire, leaving no recoverable hull. The site later persisted as a navigational hazard until cleared in 1958.

Located By & Wreck Documentation

No known modern archaeological rediscovery or side-scan imaging of the wreck has occurred. Post-loss, no systematic underwater survey appears documented. The removal of wreck remnants by authorities in 1958 likely precludes modern site investigation.

Notmars & Advisories

No historical Notices to Mariners specifically referencing the Ruby wreck were located. However, the vessel’s remains were officially removed decades later in 1958 to mitigate navigational hazard risks.

Resources & Links

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – entry “J.S. Ruby”: provides build info, dimensions, fire loss account, and removal in 1958 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • US Coast Guard Historian Office – USLHS documentation on J.S. Ruby: lists vessel use in lighthouse tenders before fire loss (reflecting charter history in 1890‑91) (history.uscg.mil)

Keywords & Categories

Steam barge, wooden propeller freight vessel; fire loss; St. Clair River; 1891; Ontario/Michigan; hazard removal; small cargo vessel

Summary

The J.S. Ruby exemplifies mid‑to‑late 19th‑century steam‑barge construction—built primarily for light freight carriage in confined waterways like the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair. In November 1891, she caught fire during passage and was burned to a hull beyond salvage. No lives were lost, and contemporary actions included beached abandonment. The wreck remained in place until removed in 1958 for safety reasons. There is no known modern dive or documentation effort; thus, archaeological information is limited to registry and incident reports

j-s-ruby-us-76233 1891-11-10 10:57:00