R.A. Seymour Jr – Lake Michigan Barge Shipwreck (1924)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: R.A. Seymour, Jr.
• Type: Wooden Steambarge
• Year Built: 1882
• Builder: Rand & Burger, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
• Dimensions: Length: 110.1 ft (33.5 m); Beam: 22.75 ft (6.9 m); Depth of hold: 7.7 ft (2.3 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 131.46 GT
• Location:
• Official Number: 110672
• Original Owners: Various owners including Frederick, Elwin & R.A. Seymour; Charles T. Wright; Otter Creek Lumber Co.; George C. Conroe; Fowler J. Preston; Wisconsin Chair Co.; E.E. Dove & William J. Gorman; Chicago Lighterage Co.

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The R.A. Seymour, Jr. was classified as a wooden steambarge, primarily utilized in the lumber trade on the Great Lakes.

Description

Built in 1882 by Rand & Burger in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the R.A. Seymour, Jr. was a wooden steambarge measuring 110.1 feet in length, with a beam of 22.75 feet and a depth of 7.7 feet. It had a gross tonnage of 131.46 GT and a cargo capacity of 250,000 board feet of lumber. The vessel was powered by a high-pressure, single-cylinder engine manufactured by Sherriff’s Manufacturing Co., Milwaukee, WI, and was propelled by a screw (propeller-driven) system.

History

The R.A. Seymour, Jr. was a significant player in the Lake Michigan lumber trade, with ownership changing hands multiple times throughout its operational history. It was enrolled at Grand Haven, Michigan, on April 10, 1883, and had various owners including Frederick, Elwin & R.A. Seymour, Charles T. Wright, and the Otter Creek Lumber Co. The vessel was laid up in December 1912, marking the end of its active service.

Significant Incidents

• 1890, May 17: Ashore near Frankfort, MI (refloated and repaired).
• 1894, October: Severely damaged in a collision with steambarge Mary Mills off Port Washington in fog. Repaired in Sheboygan, WI.
• 1895, June: Received a second-hand engine & boiler; rebuilt at Philbrook’s Yard.

Final Disposition

In December 1912, the R.A. Seymour, Jr. was sold and laid up, ending its commercial service. On May 6, 1924, it was abandoned and sunk, with the exact location of the wreckage remaining unknown.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No confirmed modern discovery of wreckage has been reported, and there are no known navigational hazards related to this vessel.

Resources & Links

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The R.A. Seymour, Jr. was a hardworking Great Lakes steambarge that played a key role in the lumber trade for over 30 years. Despite multiple owners, groundings, and collisions, she remained in service until 1912, when she was laid up. Her final fate was abandonment and sinking in 1924, making her one of the many lost wooden steamers of the Great Lakes.