Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: James H. Shrigley
- Type: Wooden Steambarge (Cargo Vessel)
- Year Built: 1881
- Builder: Milwaukee Shipyard Co.
- Dimensions: 171.6 ft (52.3 m) X 31.2 ft (9.5 m); Depth of hold: 11.6 ft (3.5 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 459.92 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 3.4 m / 11 ft
- Location: Half a mile off Braddocks Point Lighthouse, near Charlotte, New York
- Coordinates: 43.348750° N, -77.805806° W
- Official Number: 76214
- Original Owners: John Canfield and James H. Shrigley
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden Steambarge (Cargo Vessel)
Description
The James H. Shrigley was a large, reinforced wooden steambarge built for hauling heavy industrial materials such as coal and lumber across the Great Lakes. Featuring a compound engine with iron-reinforced boiler housing and diagonal strapped framing, the vessel was part of a class of ships built to withstand long freight runs and harsh lake conditions.
History
Built in 1881 by Milwaukee Shipyard Co., the James H. Shrigley was owned by John Canfield and James H. Shrigley of Manistee, Michigan. It spent nearly four decades as a workhorse of the Great Lakes shipping industry, primarily moving bulk commodities vital to the developing rail and construction sectors. Its Philadelphia-built 350-horsepower steeple compound engine powered a single propeller, providing substantial towing and cargo capacity.
Throughout her service life, she endured numerous hardships common to Great Lakes vessels—fire, mechanical breakdowns, and extreme weather. Despite these, she remained active and was a testament to Great Lakes maritime engineering resilience.
Significant Incidents
On August 18, 1920, while hauling coal near Charlotte, New York (just west of Rochester), the James H. Shrigley wrecked under unclear circumstances. She sank roughly half a mile off Braddocks Point Lighthouse, though all crew members were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Final Disposition
The wreck lies flat on the lakebed, composed of wooden planking flush with the bottom, and remains a significant heritage site.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Located during NOAA hydrographic survey H-10138/1984, marked as a dangerous submerged wreck at a confirmed position with high accuracy. Still listed on NOAA Chart 14805 as a submerged danger; however, due to shallow depth and low relief, it does not pose a significant modern navigational hazard. Divers should note its flush-bottom profile, making detection difficult without sonar or visual references.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”james-h-shrigley-us-76214″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The James H. Shrigley is a stellar example of a Great Lakes industrial steambarge, reflecting the resilience, utility, and maritime innovation of its time. Serving faithfully for nearly 40 years, it met its fate near Charlotte, New York, and today lies submerged but remembered as part of the rich shipping heritage of Lake Ontario. As a relatively shallow and accessible site, it holds potential interest for heritage divers and marine archaeologists.
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 Information –
- Name: James H. Shrigley
- Former Names: None known
- Registration Number(s): Official No. 76214
- Date Built and Launched: Built 1881, Milwaukee Shipyard Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Measurements:
- Length: 52.3 m (171.6 ft)
- Beam: 9.5 m (31.2 ft)
- Depth of Hold: 3.5 m (11.6 ft)
- Gross Tonnage: 459.92 tons
- Net Tonnage: 364.58 tons
- Date Lost / Destroyed / Abandoned: August 18, 1920
- NOAA Wreck ID: 7068 / OBJECTID 11914
- Chart Number: NOAA Chart 14805
- Location of Loss: 43.348750° N, -77.805806° W
- Google Maps
- Depth: 3.4 m (11 ft)
- Position Quality: High (Direct survey)
- Position Source: Direct hydrographic operations
- Sounding Type: Feet and tenths
Vessel Type
Wooden Steambarge (Cargo Vessel)
Description
The James H. Shrigley was a large, reinforced wooden steambarge built for hauling heavy industrial materials such as coal and lumber across the Great Lakes. Featuring a compound engine with iron-reinforced boiler housing and diagonal strapped framing, the vessel was part of a class of ships built to withstand long freight runs and harsh lake conditions.
History
Built in 1881 by Milwaukee Shipyard Co., the James H. Shrigley was owned by John Canfield and James H. Shrigley of Manistee, Michigan. It spent nearly four decades as a workhorse of the Great Lakes shipping industry, primarily moving bulk commodities vital to the developing rail and construction sectors. Its Philadelphia-built 350-horsepower steeple compound engine powered a single propeller, providing substantial towing and cargo capacity.
Throughout her service life, she endured numerous hardships common to Great Lakes vessels—fire, mechanical breakdowns, and extreme weather. Despite these, she remained active and was a testament to Great Lakes maritime engineering resilience.
Final Dispositions
On August 18, 1920, while hauling coal near Charlotte, New York (just west of Rochester), the James H. Shrigley wrecked under unclear circumstances. She sank roughly half a mile off Braddocks Point Lighthouse, though all crew members were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. The wreck lies flat on the lakebed, composed of wooden planking flush with the bottom, and remains a significant heritage site.
Located By & Date Found
Located during NOAA hydrographic survey H-10138/1984, marked as a dangerous submerged wreck at a confirmed position with high accuracy.
Notmars & Advisories
Still listed on NOAA Chart 14805 as a submerged danger; however, due to shallow depth and low relief, it does not pose a significant modern navigational hazard. Divers should note its flush-bottom profile, making detection difficult without sonar or visual references.
Resources & Links
- NOAA Wrecks Database
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships Database
- National Museum of the Great Lakes
- Manistee County Historical Museum
- Wisconsin Maritime Museum
Conclusion
The James H. Shrigley is a stellar example of a Great Lakes industrial steambarge, reflecting the resilience, utility, and maritime innovation of its time. Serving faithfully for nearly 40 years, it met its fate near Charlotte, New York, and today lies submerged but remembered as part of the rich shipping heritage of Lake Ontario. As a relatively shallow and accessible site, it holds potential interest for heritage divers and marine archaeologists.
Keywords: James H. Shrigley, Lake Ontario, Braddocks Point, Charlotte NY, Great Lakes Steambarge
Categories: Documented Wrecks, Industrial Era Vessels, Great Lakes Heritage
Glossary Terms:
- Steambarge: A cargo vessel powered by steam, used extensively in Great Lakes transport.
- Diagonal Strapped Frame: A reinforcement method using diagonal bracing to strengthen wooden hulls.
- Flush with Bottom: Indicates a wreck’s structure lies even with the lakebed, potentially difficult to detect visually.
No public diver reports or sonar imaging for the James H. Shrigley wreck near Braddocks Point, NY currently exist on major wreck-diving or sonar survey websites such as:
Likely Reasons:
- The wreck is flush with the lakebed, making it difficult to locate visually without precise sonar or GPS.
- It lies in shallow water (~11 ft / 3.4 m) but may be partially buried in sediment.
- No prominent superstructure or relief makes it less attractive to recreational divers compared to more visible wrecks.
Conclusion
Although the James H. Shrigley is a confirmed, charted wreck with high historical significance, there are no diver-documented visits or sonar scans published online. It remains a valuable but understudied site, likely ideal for archaeological dives or survey-focused exploration rather than recreational viewing.
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