Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Negaunee
- Type: wooden two-masted bulk freight schooner-barge
- Year Built: 1867
- Builder: Vermilion, Ohio
- Dimensions: 196 ft (59.74 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Not recorded
- Location: Lake Erie off Sandusky, Ohio
- Coordinates: Not available
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Original Owners: Bradley fleet out of Cleveland
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Negaunee was a wooden two-masted bulk freight schooner-barge, built in 1867 in Vermilion, Ohio. It was primarily used for transporting iron ore.
Description
The Negaunee was approximately 196 feet in length and was part of the heavy iron ore trade on the Great Lakes. It was towed by the steamer City of Concord at the time of its loss.
History
The Negaunee was owned by the Bradley fleet based in Cleveland and was involved in the transportation of iron ore. It was lost during a severe storm in 1906.
Significant Incidents
- On September 27, 1906, during a severe gale, Negaunee ran aground on a reef near Sandusky while under tow by City of Concord; she was heavily damaged.
- On October 1, 1906, another storm refloated the wreck off the reef, and she sank in deep water.
- Crew were rescued; no casualties were reported.
- Simultaneously, City of Concord sank in the same gale.
Final Disposition
The Negaunee was initially grounded and later sank completely after being driven into deep water by storms. The wreck is believed to be intact below the surface of Lake Erie.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of Negaunee remains undated in modern dive or archaeological databases, with no known surveys or diver confirmations published.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”negaunee-1867″ title=”References & Links”]
The losses of both Negaunee and City of Concord highlight the historic peril of late-season iron ore tows on Lake Erie. The wreck lies in deep water off Sandusky, uncharted in modern dive surveys.
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.
(built 1867; lost October 1, 1906)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Negaunee
- Year Built: 1867 (wooden two-masted bulk freight schooner-barge, built in Vermilion, Ohio)
- Official Number / Tonnage: Not recorded in summary; approximately 196 ft in length, used in heavy iron ore trade
- Owner: Bradley fleet out of Cleveland
- Loss Date: October 1, 1906
- Loss Location: Lake Erie off Sandusky, Ohio
Cargo & Operational Status
- Cargo: Iron ore
- Negaunee was being towed by the steamer City of Concord, along with up to three barges.
Circumstances of Loss
- On September 27, 1906, during a severe gale, Negaunee ran aground on a reef near Sandusky while under tow by City of Concord; she was heavily damaged.
- Another storm on October 1 refloated the wreck off the reef, and she sank in deep water.
- Crew were rescued; no casualties were reported.
- Concurrently, City of Concord herself sank in the same gale. (alcheminc.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Disposition
- Negaunee was initially grounded; later storms drove her into deep water where she foundered and sank completely.
- The wreck lies in deep Lake Erie, likely intact below the surface.
Wreck & Legacy
- The wreck remains undated in modern dive or archaeological databases; no known surveys or diver confirmations have been published.
- Both Negaunee and City of Concord losses highlight the historic peril of late-season iron ore tows on Lake Erie.
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Negaunee |
| Built | 1867, Vermilion, Ohio (wooden schooner-barge) |
| Vessel Type | Bulk freight barge (~196 ft) |
| Cargo | Iron ore |
| Tow Vessel | City of Concord |
| Loss Dates | Sept 27 (grounded); Oct 1 (sank) 1906 |
| Loss Location | Reef off Sandusky, Ohio, Lake Erie |
| Cause | Gale-driven stranding and sinking |
| Crew & Casualties | All survived; no deaths reported |
| Wreck Located | Not surveyed or confirmed by divers |
Research Notes
Key facts consolidated from shipwreck logs and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Files:
- Negaunee ran aground under tow on Sept 27, then sank during a subsequent storm on Oct 1, 1906, after breaking free from the reef.(alcheminc.com, Wikipedia, Wikipedia, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- The City of Concord, towing Negaunee, also foundered in the same storm.(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Conclusion
Negaunee was a substantial 196-ft iron ore barge involved in bulk trade. In late September 1906, during a storm on Lake Erie, she grounded while under tow and later sank after breaking off the reef during another gale. The crew survived, but both Negaunee and her tow steamer City of Concord were lost. The wreck lies in deep water off Sandusky, uncharted in modern dive surveys.
If you’d like support locating contemporary newspaper reports, mapping potential wreck coordinates, or consulting registry logs, I’m available to assist.
negaunee-1867 1906-10-01 21:48:00