Ormsby (1871)

Explore the wreck of the Ormsby, a wooden-hulled propeller steamer lost in 1876 during a storm, offering insights into early maritime challenges.

Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steamer
Built: 1871 (likely Great Lakes)
Trade: Known to operate in Michigan waters; captained by a Great Lakes master

Date: October 15, 1876
Incident: While at anchor, the crew had been living aboard during heavy weather conditions. The vessel went ashore—no fire or casualties have been mentioned in available sources.
Casualties: None reported; crew remained onboard during the weather event

Due to grounding and storm damage, Ormsby was likely declared a total loss or required major salvage/removal.
No follow-up records (e.g., salvage attempts, scuttling, or refloating) have been conclusively located.

Ormsby signals the risk faced by early propeller steamers in heavy weather, especially when choosing to anchor near shore.
The lack of injury or fatalities suggests effective crew procedures, though the loss demonstrates the limitations in storm preparedness protocols of the era.
As a lesser-known wreck, Ormsby presents an opportunity to study obscure steam-driven workboats from the 1870s—vessels often overlooked in favor of larger freighters.

Focus Area	Recommended Actions
Build & Registry Records	Access enrollment logs circa 1871 under “Ormsby” to determine tonnage, ownership, and home port details.
Newspaper Archives	Examine Detroit Free Press, Chicago Tribune, Saginaw Courier, and Michigan coastal newspapers (Oct 1876) for grounding or crew shelter stories.
Lifeboat/Rescue Logs	Retrieve U.S. Lifesaving Service station records relevant to the anchorage area for reports on Ormsby.
Salvage or Marine Notice	Check harbor or government bulletins for salvage notices involving the grounded vessel.
Wreck Site Survey	If grounding location is identified, conduct underwater remote sensing to assess possible remains for study and documentation.

Name: Ormsby
Built: 1871 (wooden propeller steamer)
Loss: October 15, 1876 — grounded in heavy weather; no fire or casualties
Crew: Safe; no lives lost
Remainder: Assumed total loss; no known salvage
Research Value: Example of mid-19th-century work-steamer wreck; underdocumented and ripe for discovery

[shotline_reference_links slug=”ormsby-1871″ title=”References & Links”]

🔒

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