Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Joseph Paige
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge
- Year Built: 1872
- Builder: Wolf & Davidson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: 190 ft × 32 ft × 12 ft; 626 GRT / 595 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 626 GRT / 595 NRT
- Location: Approximately off Vermilion Point, Lake Superior
- Official Number: 75593
- Number of Masts: Two-mast
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A large wooden schooner converted into a barge for bulk freight, specifically iron ore transport. Commonly towed behind steamers to maximize cargo tonnage.
Description
Constructed in 1872, Joseph Paige carried iron ore across Lake Superior. On 1 December 1897, she was being towed outbound from Marquette by the steamer H.B. Tuttle. A winter storm abruptly cast her loose, and she was driven onto a reef near Vermilion Point. A patrolling lifesaving crew spotted the abandoned barge and rescued her crew just before she broke up in surf.
History
The vessel foundered on the reef and was destroyed by waves over time. Declared a total loss; no salvage effort followed.
Significant Incidents
- 1 December 1897: Cast adrift during a winter storm while under tow, leading to grounding on a reef.
- No casualties among the 9 crew members aboard.
Final Disposition
First recorded as grounded and broken up following the storm on 1 December 1897. The US Lifesaving station officers documented the rescue. No GPS coordinates or dive surveys have located her remains.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No formal navigational markers note the site. Vermilion Point remains a known winter storm hazard on Lake Superior. Mariners should exercise caution, particularly off-shore near reefs.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”joesph-paige-us-75593″ title=”References & Links”]
Joseph Paige, a 190-ft ore-barge built in 1872, was lost on 1 December 1897 when a winter storm cast her from tow and drove her onto a reef off Vermilion Point. The lifesaving crew rescued her crew, and the barge later failed against surf. Her wreck smoothed away by waves—with no survey or remains left—she represents the winter perils on Lake Superior’s iron trade routes.
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: Joseph Paige
- Built: 1872 at Wolf & Davidson, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner-barge, bulk-freight two-mast
- Dimensions: 190 ft × 32 ft × 12 ft; 626 GRT / 595 NRT
- Official Number: 75593
- Final Loss: 1 December 1897
- Location: Approximately off Vermilion Point, Lake Superior
- Cause of Loss: Storm-driven foundering (cast adrift while under tow)
- Cargo: Iron ore
- Crew & Casualties: No casualties among 9 aboard
Vessel Type
A large wooden schooner converted into a barge for bulk freight, specifically iron ore transport. Commonly towed behind steamers to maximize cargo tonnage.
History & Final Voyage
Constructed in 1872, Joseph Paige carried iron ore across Lake Superior. On 1 December 1897, she was being towed outbound from Marquette by the steamer H.B. Tuttle. A winter storm abruptly cast her loose, and she was driven onto a reef near Vermilion Point. A patrolling lifesaving crew spotted the abandoned barge and rescued her crew just before she broke up in surf. (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, aos.wisc.edu)
Final Disposition
The vessel foundered on the reef and was destroyed by waves over time. Declared a total loss; no salvage effort followed.
Located By & Date Found
First recorded as grounded and broken up following the storm on 1 December 1897. The US Lifesaving station officers documented the rescue. No GPS coordinates or dive surveys have located her remains.
Notmars & Advisories
No formal navigational markers note the site. Vermilion Point remains a known winter storm hazard on Lake Superior. Mariners should exercise caution, particularly off-shore near reefs.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry (build details, tow incident, loss date) (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Wis. weather retrospective confirming reef grounding incident December 1, 1897 (aos.wisc.edu)
Conclusion
Joseph Paige, a 190-ft ore-barge built in 1872, was lost on 1 December 1897 when a winter storm cast her from tow and drove her onto a reef off Vermilion Point. The lifesaving crew rescued her crew, and the barge later failed against surf. Her wreck smoothed away by waves—with no survey or remains left—she represents the winter perils on Lake Superior’s iron trade routes.