Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: POTOMAC
- Type: Wooden propeller steamer, later converted to barge
- Year Built: 1855
- Builder: Luther Moses
- Dimensions: Length: 209.14 ft (63.77 m); Beam: 33.04 ft (10.07 m); Depth of hold: 12.43 ft (3.79 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 818 40/95
- Depth at Wreck Site: 3.79 m / 12.43 ft
- Location: Buckhorn Island, Niagara River, New York
- Official Number: 19618
- Original Owners: American Transportation Co.
- Number of Masts: Originally 2, later 3 when converted to barge
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden propeller steamer, later converted to a barge. Initially used in the package freight and bulk trades across the Great Lakes.
Description
- Builder: Luther Moses
- Build Location: Cleveland, Ohio
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: 1 (later converted to 2 during remeasurements)
- Masts: Originally 2, later 3 when converted to barge
- Propulsion: Twin-screw
- Engines: Two 25″ x 36″ engines by Buffalo Engineering Works (1855)
- Boiler: Firebox type, 17′ x 7.5′ or 6.5′ square (built 1853)
- Dimensions (original):
- Length: 209.14 ft (63.77 m)
- Beam: 33.04 ft (10.07 m)
- Depth: 12.43 ft (3.79 m)
- Tonnage (Old Style): 818 40/95
- Capacity: 900 tons
- Remeasured (1865–66):
- New Length: 210.6 ft (64.17 m)
- Gross Tonnage (1866): 1,108.35 tons
History
- 1855, Oct 25: Enrolled and operated by the American Transportation Co., Buffalo, NY.
- 1856, Oct: Collision with brig JOHN G. DESHLER, Lake Michigan.
- 1860s: Changed ownership multiple times, operating largely on Lakes Erie and Michigan.
- 1860, Sep: Broke shaft near Milwaukee.
- 1861: Underwent large-scale repairs; based in Buffalo.
- 1865–66: Remeasured and rebuilt; tonnage significantly increased.
- 1877: Boilers replaced using units from the TONAWANDA (sank 1870).
- 1881–1883: Multiple groundings and accidents; notably near Erie, PA, and Ahnapee, WI.
- 1884: Sank at Buffalo but was recovered and repaired.
- 1885, Jun: Converted to a barge; simplified superstructure and modified rig.
- 1886–1893: Operated as a barge, towed by the ST. LOUIS.
- 1892, Oct: Final incident—struck pier at Sault Ste. Marie, sustaining stern damage.
- 1895: Declared unserviceable and abandoned at Buckhorn Island.
- 1899, Jun 30: Registration officially surrendered.
Final Disposition
POTOMAC was abandoned at Buckhorn Island in the Niagara River, following a prolonged career of conversions, collisions, and heavy use. By 1895, she had reached the end of her utility, with documents surrendered four years later.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern wreck site has been confirmed. Likely dismantled or rotted in shallow water or shoreline.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”potomac-us-19618″ title=”References & Links”]
The POTOMAC illustrates the typical lifecycle of a large wooden Great Lakes steamer: from early prominence in freight transport to eventual relegation as a tow-barge. Her history is punctuated by frequent repairs, ownership changes, and modifications reflecting economic and technological transitions on the inland seas. Though not a catastrophic wreck, her abandonment at Buckhorn Island marks the quiet end of a long and eventful career.
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: POTOMAC
- Official Number: 19618
- Year Built: 1855
- Final Location: Buckhorn Island, Niagara River, New York
- Date Lost/Retired: 1895
- How Lost: Abandoned
- Final Cargo: None noted
Vessel Type
Wooden propeller steamer, later converted to a barge. Initially used in the package freight and bulk trades across the Great Lakes.
Description
- Builder: Luther Moses
- Build Location: Cleveland, Ohio
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: 1 (later converted to 2 during remeasurements)
- Masts: Originally 2, later 3 when converted to barge
- Propulsion: Twin-screw
- Engines: Two 25″ x 36″ engines by Buffalo Engineering Works (1855)
- Boiler: Firebox type, 17′ x 7.5′ or 6.5′ square (built 1853)
- Dimensions (original):
- Length: 209.14 ft (63.77 m)
- Beam: 33.04 ft (10.07 m)
- Depth: 12.43 ft (3.79 m)
- Tonnage (Old Style): 818 40/95
- Capacity: 900 tons
- Remeasured (1865–66):
- New Length: 210.6 ft (64.17 m)
- Gross Tonnage (1866): 1,108.35 tons
History
- 1855, Oct 25: Enrolled and operated by the American Transportation Co., Buffalo, NY.
- 1856, Oct: Collision with brig JOHN G. DESHLER, Lake Michigan.
- 1860s: Changed ownership multiple times, operating largely on Lakes Erie and Michigan.
- 1860, Sep: Broke shaft near Milwaukee.
- 1861: Underwent large-scale repairs; based in Buffalo.
- 1865–66: Remeasured and rebuilt; tonnage significantly increased.
- 1877: Boilers replaced using units from the TONAWANDA (sank 1870).
- 1881–1883: Multiple groundings and accidents; notably near Erie, PA, and Ahnapee, WI.
- 1884: Sank at Buffalo but was recovered and repaired.
- 1885, Jun: Converted to a barge; simplified superstructure and modified rig.
- 1886–1893: Operated as a barge, towed by the ST. LOUIS.
- 1892, Oct: Final incident—struck pier at Sault Ste. Marie, sustaining stern damage.
- 1895: Declared unserviceable and abandoned at Buckhorn Island.
- 1899, Jun 30: Registration officially surrendered.
Final Disposition
POTOMAC was abandoned at Buckhorn Island in the Niagara River, following a prolonged career of conversions, collisions, and heavy use. By 1895, she had reached the end of her utility, with documents surrendered four years later.
Located By & Date Found
No modern wreck site has been confirmed. Likely dismantled or rotted in shallow water or shoreline.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database – Bowling Green State University
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
- Edward J. Dowling Collection
- Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory
- University of Detroit-Mercy Archives
Conclusion
The POTOMAC illustrates the typical lifecycle of a large wooden Great Lakes steamer: from early prominence in freight transport to eventual relegation as a tow-barge. Her history is punctuated by frequent repairs, ownership changes, and modifications reflecting economic and technological transitions on the inland seas. Though not a catastrophic wreck, her abandonment at Buckhorn Island marks the quiet end of a long and eventful career.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
Keywords: propeller steamer, wooden barge, Niagara River, Buffalo history, conversion vessel
Categories: Great Lakes shipping, 19th-century steamers, Niagara River shipwrecks, converted vessels
Glossary:
- Rebuilt: Structural modifications often including length, hull shape, or deck configuration.
- Converted to barge: Removal of propulsion machinery to serve as a cargo-only tow vessel.
- Surrendered documents: Formal termination of vessel registration with marine authorities.