Rowena US 21785

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: ROWENA
• Type: Scow Schooner
• Year Built: 1856
• Builder: Theron Moore, Black River, Ohio
• Dimensions: Length 90 ft (27.4 m); Beam 22.7 ft (6.9 m); Depth of hold 5.9 ft (1.8 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 108 tons (old measurement)
• Location: Near Michigan City, Indiana – Lake Michigan
• Official Number: 21785
• Original Owners: Theron Moore, Parsons & Boyer
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Scow schooners like the ROWENA were rugged, shallow-draft cargo vessels optimized for the shallow ports and rivers of the Great Lakes. Featuring flat bottoms and boxy hulls, these vessels were easy to build and maintain, typically used for carrying bulk commodities such as lumber, coal, and agricultural goods.

Description

With dimensions characteristic of a mid-sized Great Lakes scow, the ROWENA was capable of navigating both major lake routes and minor tributaries. Her relatively shallow draft allowed access to undeveloped harbours and loading facilities.

History

For two decades, the ROWENA operated on the lower lakes, likely hauling lumber and coal, given her design and trade centers. Her registration in both Cleveland and Chicago illustrates typical port-hopping of freight scows.

• 1856: Enrolled at Cleveland, Ohio; owned by her builder, Theron Moore.
• 1863: Enrolled at Chicago, Illinois – likely reflecting westward expansion of operations.
• 1864: Owned by Parsons & Boyer of Chicago, indicating use in commercial freight out of Illinois ports.

Significant Incidents

On 21 November 1876, the ROWENA was driven ashore near Michigan City, Indiana during a Lake Michigan storm. Contributing to the disaster was the relocation of a navigational aid, which misled the vessel into danger. She was declared a total loss.

Final Disposition

The wreck has not been conclusively located, and no documented modern recovery or survey exists for the ROWENA.

Current Condition & Accessibility

• Status: Presumed destroyed or buried in sediment.
• Diver Access: No known wreckage is accessible; site presumed nearshore and scattered.
• Survey Status: No public sonar or dive survey confirmed.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”rowena-us-21785″ title=”References & Links”]

The ROWENA exemplifies the utilitarian scow schooner class that supported Great Lakes commerce in the mid-19th century. Though not well-remembered individually, ships like ROWENA were vital to regional supply chains. Her demise underscores the navigational risks of the period, particularly as shipping depended heavily on accurate placement of buoys and lights.