Shotline Diving

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Ogemaw US 155035

Explore the remains of the Ogemaw, a wooden steam barge that sank in 1922 after catching fire in the St. Clair River.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Ogemaw
  • Type: Wooden propeller-driven steam barge
  • Year Built: 1881
  • Builder: Simon Langell
  • Dimensions: 162.6 ft × 30 ft × 11.4 ft; 594 gross tons, 325 net tons
  • Registered Tonnage: 594 gross tons, 325 net tons
  • Location: Approximately 1.5 miles south of Grande Pointe, St. Clair River
  • Official Number: 155035
  • Original Owners: Oscoda-based Penoyer Bros. (1883) → Edward Smith (1890) → Michigan Wrecking & Salvage Co. (1894) → E. B. Foss (1904) → Argo Steamship Co. (1916) → J. C. Garey (1918) → William Burns (1922, Detroit)

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Ogemaw was a wooden propeller-driven steam barge designed primarily for hauling lumber and towing consort barges.

Description

Built in 1881 by Simon Langell at Pine River, St. Clair, Michigan, the Ogemaw underwent a significant rebuild in 1895 after sinking in 1891. The vessel measured approximately 162.6 feet in length, 30 feet in beam, and had a depth of 11.4 feet, with a registered tonnage of 594 gross tons and 325 net tons.

History

The Ogemaw was enrolled on June 18, 1881, at Port Huron and was initially built for hauling lumber and towing consort barges. Throughout its service, it changed ownership several times, including notable owners such as Edward Smith and the Argo Steamship Co.

Significant Incidents

  • 1891: The vessel sprang a leak and sank in Big Bay de Noc but was raised and rebuilt in 1895.

Final Disposition

On December 3, 1922, while upbound light in ballast from Toledo toward Marine City, the Ogemaw stranded approximately 1.5 miles south of Grande Pointe in the St. Clair River. After grounding, the vessel caught fire and burned to the waterline, resulting in a total loss, though no lives were lost.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The remains of the Ogemaw were not salvaged and are most likely scattered and burned hull remnants near the stranding site in the lower St. Clair River. No sonar mapping or dive surveys have been documented, but the wreck is presumed to lie in relatively shallow river waters.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”ogemaw-us-155035″ title=”References & Links”]

The Ogemaw served for over four decades, primarily in the lumber trade, until its loss in 1922. The vessel’s history of rebuilding and its eventual destruction highlight the challenges faced by maritime vessels of the era. The site remains a potential target for historical maritime archaeology in the St. Clair River.

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: Ogemaw
  • Official Number: 155035 (Clio)
  • Type: Wooden propeller-driven steam barge, designed to carry lumber and tow schooner barges (Clio)
  • Built: 1881 by Simon Langell at Pine River, St. Clair, Michigan (Clio)
  • Dimensions (post-1895 rebuild): ~162.6 ft × 30 ft × 11.4 ft; 594 gross tons, 325 net tons (Clio)

Vessel History

  • 1881: Enrolled June 18 at Port Huron; built for hauling lumber and towing consort barges (Clio).
  • 1891: Sprang a leak and sank in Big Bay de Noc (11 fathoms deep), but was raised and rebuilt in 1895 (Clio).
  • Ownership Timeline: Oscoda-based Penoyer Bros. (1883) → Edward Smith (1890) → Michigan Wrecking & Salvage Co. (1894) → E. B. Foss (1904) → Argo Steamship Co. (1916) → J. C. Garey (1918) → William Burns (1922, Detroit) (Clio).

Final Voyage & Loss (Dec 3, 1922)

  • While upbound light (in ballast) from Toledo toward Marine City to lay up for the season, the Ogemaw stranded approximately 1½ miles south of Grande Pointe (Grand Point/Harsens Island) in the St. Clair River (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • After grounding, she caught fire and burned to the waterline, resulting in total loss, though no lives were lost (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Wreck Site Conditions

  • The remains were not salvaged and are most likely scattered and burned hull remnants near the stranding site in the lower St. Clair River.
  • No sonar mapping or dive surveys are documented, but the physical wreck probably lies in relatively shallow river waters.

Archival Sources & Citations

  • Clio historical marker provides chronology, specs, and incident summary (Wikimedia Commons, Clio).
  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“O” list) entry confirms location, loss type, and sinking details (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • Wikimedia Commons image metadata corroborates final incident (1922 fire) (Clio).

Research Gaps & Next Steps

TopicRecommended Research Approach
Crew & Escape DetailsInvestigate Detroit Herald and Port Huron Times-Pilot issues (Dec 1922) for crew evacuation accounts.
Insurance/Ownership RecordsExamine Detroit marine insurance archives or Michigan court records for total loss claims under Burns or Garey ownership.
River survey & dive mappingCommission side-scan sonar survey around Grande Pointe/Harsens Island for physical remnants.
Ballast Voyage MonitorReview Port Huron transit logs for tug/barge movements bound for Marine City to verify timeline.

Conclusion

The Ogemaw served for over four decades—hauling lumber and towing barges—until December 3, 1922, when she stranded, burned, and sank near Harsens Island en route to Marine City. The vessel experienced a major rebuild in 1895 following earlier sinking, illustrating her extended service life. Though no crew was lost, the total destruction of her wooden hull likely left river-bottom wreckage, making the site a promising target for historical maritime archaeology in the St. Clair River.

ogemaw-us-155035 1922-12-03 00:12:00