Philip D. Armour (1889)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Philip D. Armour
• Type: Wooden bulk freighter (converted to unpowered barge/tow barge)
• Year Built: 1889
• Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Co., Detroit, Michigan
• Dimensions: Length ~264 ft (80.5 m); Beam ~40 ft (12.2 m); Depth ~21 ft (6.4 m)
• Registered Tonnage: Gross tonnage ~1,990 GT; Net tonnage ~1,452 NT
• Depth at Wreck Site: 9.1 m / 30 ft
• Location: 42° 7′ 40.9188″ N, 80° 10′ 41.7″ W
• Coordinates: 42° 7′ 40.9188″ N, 80° 10′ 41.7″ W
• Original Owners: R. P. Fitzgerald; Pittsburgh & Erie Coal Co.; John J. Boland

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

A late 19th-century wooden-hulled bulk freighter (“laker”), built for commodified transport (coal, grain). It featured dual-deck construction, oak framing, and boiler-powered steam machinery typical of its era (maritimestudies.ecu.edu).

Description

The Philip D. Armour boasted a sturdy oak superstructure and straight-decker profile, with a pilothouse forward and the engine room aft. It carried large, evenly spaced hatches for manual and gravity-fed loading/unloading.

History

Delivered in 1889, she joined the “White Fleet” under R. P. Fitzgerald. Early in her career, she collided with the steamer Marion in the St. Clair River in April 1889, sank, but was salvaged and returned to service. By 1907, ownership passed to Pittsburgh & Erie Coal Co., and she was laid up in 1914 in Misery Bay due to outdated machinery. Converted to a tow barge in 1915, she was chartered by John J. Boland of Buffalo. Under tow by tug Henry E. Gillen, she broke loose on November 15, 1915, struck a reef near Waldamere Park, and sank. Fortunately, no lives were lost, but the vessel and coal cargo were total losses (en.wikipedia.org).

Significant Incidents

• Collided with the steamer Marion in April 1889, sank, but was salvaged.
• Laid up in 1914 due to outdated machinery.
• Converted to a tow barge in 1915.
• Lost on November 15, 1915, after breaking loose from tug and striking a reef.

Final Disposition

The wreck broke apart on the shallow reef. While some sections remain on the reef, scattered debris likely drifted/collapsed into deeper water over time. The site is accessible to divers but poses hazards due to debris and shallow depth.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Documented immediately following sinking in November 1915. The site has moderate recognition among local divers and historians but lacks an official archaeological survey or formal recovery/excavation.

Resources & Links

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The Philip D. Armour is a well-documented example of late 19th-century wooden bulk freighters on the Great Lakes. Converted to a barge due to obsolescence, her 1915 wreckage off Pennsylvania offers insight into commercial freight, maritime practices, and navigational risks of the era. The site holds both historical and recreational diving value.