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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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