Lancaster (1872)

Explore the mysterious wreck of the Lancaster, a wooden barge lost in 1907 in Georgian Bay, with limited details available about its final voyage.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Lancaster
  • Type: Wooden barge
  • Year Built: circa 1872
  • Builder: A. Stuhler in Lancaster, Ontario
  • Dimensions: Approx. 125 × 23 × 9 ft
  • Registered Tonnage: Approximately 270 tons
  • Location: Bayfield Sound, eastern Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
  • Official Number: Unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Type

Wooden barge.

Description

Description

The Lancaster was a wooden barge built circa 1872 by A. Stuhler in Lancaster, Ontario. It measured approximately 125 feet in length, 23 feet in beam, and had a depth of 9 feet. The barge had an approximate registered tonnage of 270 tons.

History

History

The Lancaster was operational in the Great Lakes region, but specific details about its service history, including ownership lineage and operational range, remain unclear. The exact date of loss is recorded as 1907, but the specific circumstances surrounding its sinking are not documented.

Significant Incidents

Significant Incidents

  • Lost in 1907; no further details provided.
  • No known record of cargo or crew fatalities.
  • No event narrative available.

Final Disposition

Final Disposition

The Lancaster is listed as ‘lost’ with no known remains located. Its status is currently unlocated, with the possibility of scattered remains in Bayfield Sound.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Current Condition & Accessibility

As of now, the wreck of the Lancaster has not been located. A survey proposal includes archival searches, registry lookups, and sonar surveys in Bayfield Sound.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”lancaster-1872″ title=”References & Links”]

Conclusion

The Lancaster remains an undocumented loss from 1907 in Georgian Bay. Current knowledge is limited to registry notes listing it simply as ‘lost.’ Further investigation into maritime records, local press, and registry logs could uncover vital details about her final voyage conditions, cargo, and crew outcomes, potentially leading to the discovery of her remains underwater.

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.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Lancaster
  • Built: circa 1872, by A. Stuhler in Lancaster, Ontario
  • Type: Wooden barge
  • Tonnage: Approximately 270 tons
  • Dimensions: Approx. 125 × 23 × 9 ft
  • Official Number: Unknown

Voyage & Wreck Details

  • Date of Loss: 1907 (exact date unrecorded)
  • Location: Bayfield Sound, eastern Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
  • Loss Type: Listed as “lost”; no further details provided (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Redheaded Blackbelt)
  • Circumstances: No known record of cargo, crew fatalities, or event narrative (YouTube)

Archival & Research Gaps

  • Exact date & nature of loss – whether storm, grounding, or foundered.
  • Cargo manifest & crew details – names of master, hands aboard, ownership records.
  • Ownership lineage – built in Ontario, but later operational range unclear.
  • Newspaper/inquiry reports – local Georgian Bay or Bayfield press coverage possibly exists.
  • Official documentation – any U.S. Customs or Canadian registry record.

Wreck & Investigation Potential

  • Likely status: Unlocated; scattered remains possible in Bayfield Sound
  • Survey proposal:
    1. Archival search – Bayfield-area and Georgian Bay newspapers circa 1907
    2. Registry lookup – check Canadian shipping registers for barge Lancaster
    3. Remote survey – sonar search in Bayfield Sound focusing on depths near anchorage routes
    4. Local contacts – Ontario Provincial archives & Bayfield historical society

Conclusion

The Lancaster remains an undocumented loss from 1907 in Georgian Bay; current knowledge is limited to registry notes listing it simply as “lost.” A deeper dive into 1907 maritime records, local press, and registry logs could uncover vital details like her final voyage conditions, cargo, and crew outcomes—and potentially lead to locating her remains underwater.

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