Shotline Diving

Oscoda US 155012

Explore the wreck of the Oscoda, a wooden steambarge lost in a storm in 1914, now resting in Lake Michigan.

SHOTLINE WRECKDB /Lake Michigan /Epoufette /Oscoda
No photo on file
Needs location

Oscoda

steambarge · 1878–1914
Lost
8 Nov 1914
Cause
Not recorded
Lives lost
Not recorded
Depth
Not recorded

Reportedly lies near Epoufette, Lake Michigan.

Created 11 Aug 2026 Revised 11 Aug 2026 Last source added 26 Oct 2026 11 facts · 1 sources
No position on file

Tombstone

Best value from the sources on record.
Type
steambarge
Propulsion
Screw
Hull
Wood
Built
1878
Builder
Simon Langell, St. Clair, MI
Port of registry
Saint Clair,Mich
Official no.
155012
Dimensions
175 × 32.4 ft · 529.7 GT · 345 net
Lost
8 Nov 1914
More from the record (1)
Loss circumstances
Stranded on Pelky Reef, between St. Helens Island and Sisqual Bay, 12 miles east of Naubinway, MI, on the north shore of Straits of Mackinaw, Lake Michigan, on November 10, 1914; no lives lost. Had schooners ALICE B. NORRIS and A.C. TUXBURY in tow. Vessel broke up during next few days.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Oscoda
  • Type: Wooden steambarge
  • Year Built: 1878
  • Builder: Simon Langell, St. Clair, MI
  • Dimensions: Length: 175 ft (53.34 m); Beam: 32.4 ft; Depth of hold: 13.3 ft
  • Registered Tonnage: Gross: 529.7 tons; Net: 345.2 tons; Cargo Capacity: ~800 tons
  • Location: Pelkie Reef, ~2 miles off Epoufette, MI
  • Official Number: 155012
  • Original Owners: Henry Fish & Co., St. Clair, MI; Edward Hines Lumber Co., Chicago
  • Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden steambarge with 1 deck and 2 masts, designed for the lumber trade.

Description

The Oscoda was a wooden steambarge built in 1878, primarily used for transporting lumber. It featured a single high-pressure engine and was notable for its combination of steam propulsion and traditional sailing elements.

History

Originally owned by Henry Fish & Co., the Oscoda underwent several ownership changes and upgrades throughout its service life. Significant modifications included an engine upgrade in 1885 and a new boiler installation in 1893. The vessel was ultimately owned by Edward Hines Lumber Co. by 1901.

Significant Incidents

  • 1885: Engine upgraded (steepled) by Globe Iron Works; ~500 hp.
  • 1887–1889: Ownership changed hands; stranded on Horseshoe Reef (1889).
  • 1914: Final stranding during early-November storm; vessel abandoned.

Final Disposition

The Oscoda was wrecked on November 8, 1914, after being stranded in a gale and snowstorm while carrying lumber. The enrollment was surrendered on November 20, 1914.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the Oscoda lies approximately 2 miles off Epoufette, MI, in Lake Michigan. It is part of the underwater landscape that divers can explore, although specific conditions may vary.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”oscoda-us-155012″ title=”References & Links”]

The Oscoda wreck serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by mariners on the Great Lakes and the historical significance of wooden steambarges in the lumber trade.

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

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Great Lakes Ships

greatlakeships.org vessel records: registry, build, ownership, loss.
Great Lakes Shipsgreatlakeships.org
Registry

Great Lakes Ships record

2897464 Open source
Formatted text
No transcription in the database yet.
What this source says
No facts extracted from this source yet.

David Swayze Shipwreck File

Swayze Great Lakes shipwreck file and its source citations.
David Swayze Shipwreck Fileshotlinediving.com
Nothing linked from Swayze
No record from this source is linked to this wreck yet.

BGSU Historical Collections of the Great Lakes

Great Lakes Vessels Index: registry, rig, name changes, owners, disposition.
Historical Collections of the Great Lakesbgsu.edu
Registry

BGSU Great Lakes Vessels Index record

437223 Open source
Formatted text
No transcription in the database yet.
What this source says
No facts extracted from this source yet.

Marmus · Marine Museum of the Great Lakes

Ship lists held by the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes, Kingston: the Mills List (Canadian Coastal and Inland Steam Vessels, 1809–1930) and the Wallace List.
Mills Listgreatlakesmuseum.ca Wallace Listgreatlakesmuseum.ca
Nothing linked from Marmus
No record from this source is linked to this wreck yet.

Newspapers

Contemporary and later newspaper accounts.
Maritime History of the Great Lakesmaritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
Nothing linked from Newspapers
No record from this source is linked to this wreck yet.

Webpages

Club write-ups, dive-site pages and online compilations.
Wrecks and Reefswrecksandreefs.com Warren Lo Photographywarrenlophotography.com
Nothing linked from Webpages
No record from this source is linked to this wreck yet.
Nothing linked from Stewards
No record from this source is linked to this wreck yet.

Archives (Paperless)

Archival documents, registers, books and private collections.
Nothing linked from Archives
No record from this source is linked to this wreck yet.

Photo gallery

Period photos, illustrations, site and survey imagery. Photos, files and video come from this wreck’s Paperless folder.
No photos yet

Files

Original documents behind the sources. Same Paperless folder as photos and video.
No files attached yet.

Video and 3D

Dive footage, ROV runs and 3D models, each with diver or surveyor credit.
No video linked
SHOTLINE DIVING
Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River wreck research archive.
This record
Oscoda · Needs location
Created 11 Aug 2026 · revised 11 Aug 2026
1 sources · last added 26 Oct 2026
Positions are reported, not survey fixes. Do not use for dive planning unless marked high confidence. Report a correction through the Shotline contact page.