Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Oakwood
- Type: Wooden propeller bulk freighter
- Year Built: 1891
- Builder: J. Davidson
- Dimensions: ~298 ft × 41 ft × 21 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 2,050 gt / 1,711 nt
- Location: Blackwell's Canal, Buffalo, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 126717
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Originally launched in 1891 as the steamer City of Berlin, built by J. Davidson at West Bay City (Hull # 40). Later named Charles A. Luck, Richland Star, and finally Oakwood (c. 1925).
Description
The Oakwood was a wooden propeller bulk freighter measuring approximately 298 feet in length, 41 feet in beam, and 21 feet in depth. It had a registered tonnage of about 2,050 gross tons and 1,711 net tons.
History
The vessel’s service history includes a grounding incident on June 8, 1925, at Miller’s Point, after which it was salvaged. The Oakwood became stranded in Buffalo’s Blackwell’s Canal during heavy weather on August 9, 1925, sustaining hull damage. During inspection and repair efforts, the vessel caught fire, leading to its total loss.
Significant Incidents
- Loss Date: August 9, 1925
- Location: Blackwell’s Canal, Buffalo, Lake Erie
- Incident Circumstances: Grounded in the canal during heavy weather, sustaining hull damage; caught fire during inspection/repair, leading to total loss by fire.
- Fatalities: None reported (crew survived)
Final Disposition
The burned remains of the Oakwood were further dismantled in 1934 to recover metal components, effectively eliminating any intact wreck.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is no longer intact due to dismantling efforts in 1934. The site may be of interest for historical research but is not accessible as a dive site.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”oakwoodcity-of-berlincharles-a-luck-richland-star” title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Oakwood serves as a reminder of the risks faced by vessels in familiar waters, particularly following grounding incidents that can lead to catastrophic outcomes.
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 in 1891; lost August 9, 1925)
Vessel Identification
- Originally launched in 1891 as the steamer City of Berlin, built by J. Davidson at West Bay City (Hull # 40). Later named Charles A. Luck, Richland Star, and finally Oakwood (c. 1925).
- Official Number: 126717
- Type: Wooden propeller bulk freighter (~298 ft × 41 × 21; approx. 2,050 gt / 1,711 nt)
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Voyage and Cause of Loss
- Loss Date: August 9, 1925
- Location: Became stranded in Buffalo’s Blackwell’s Canal, Lake Erie
- Incident Circumstances:
- Oakwood grounded in the canal during heavy weather, sustaining hull damage.
- Subsequently caught fire during inspection/repair, leading to total loss by fire.
- She had previously grounded on June 8, 1925 at Miller’s Point and had been salvaged some weeks prior, but then burned on August 9.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Fatalities: None reported (crew survived)
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Wreck and Aftermath
- The burned remains were later further dismantled in 1934 to recover metal components—effectively eliminating any intact wreck.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Names | City of Berlin, Charles A. Luck, Richland Star, Oakwood |
| Built & Builder | 1891, West Bay City, MI (Hull #40) |
| Official Number | 126717 |
| Dimensions / Tonnage | ~298 × 41 × 21 ft; 2,050 gt / 1,711 nt |
| Loss Date | August 9, 1925 |
| Location | Blackwell’s Canal, Buffalo, Lake Erie |
| Cause of Loss | Stranded then burned during surveying |
| Casualties | None |
| Final Disposition | Burned and later salvaged for metal parts |
Context & Significance
- Oakwood’s loss highlights the risks even mature steel or wooden bulk freighters faced in familiar port entries—especially after a grounding followed by fire.
- The vessel had already been weakened by an earlier stranding (June 8, 1925) at Miller’s Point, and recovery attempts culminated in a fire catastrophe just two months later.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files) - The final dismantling by fire in 1934 to recover metal suggests she was deemed unsalvageable as an operating hull.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Additional Research Opportunities
- Buffalo and Blackwell’s Canal records (1925): port logs, salvage contracts, and fire reports may detail the stranding and subsequent fire.
- Local newspaper archives (e.g. Buffalo Evening News, Buffalo Courier) from June–August 1925 for grounding and fire coverage.
- Corporate records or underwriters’ files: Oakwood’s ownership history and loss settlement may be traced in insurance filings.
- Salvage documentation from 1934: records of metal recovery may exist in municipal or corporate archives.