Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: St. Joseph
- Type: Wooden propeller
- Year Built: 1867
- Builder: Hitchcock & Gibson, Buffalo, NY
- Dimensions: 150.8 ft (45.9 m) × 28 ft (8.5 m) × 9.3 ft (2.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 473.93 gross tons (later rebuilds: 520 GRT; 304 GRT)
- Location: Ashtabula, Ohio harbor / Sarnia boneyard
- Coordinates: Not documented
- Official Number: 23354
- Original Owners: Multiple – incl. Goodrich Transportation, T.W. Harvey Lumber Co., Standard Navigation, American Box Co.
- Number of Masts: None
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The St. Joseph was a two-deck, wooden-hulled screw steamer built in Buffalo, NY, in 1867. Originally designed for passenger and freight service out of St. Joseph, Michigan, she underwent numerous rebuilds and modifications, including conversion to a steam barge in 1880 and several dimensional changes. With a service life spanning nearly 60 years, she was part of the evolving fleet of wooden propellers that bridged sail and steel on the Great Lakes.
Description
The St. Joseph was a wooden propeller vessel that served various roles throughout her operational life. She was initially built for passenger and freight service but was later converted to a steam barge. The vessel underwent multiple rebuilds, reflecting the changing demands of maritime transport on the Great Lakes.
History
The vessel enrolled at Buffalo on July 10, 1867, then Grand Haven on September 11, 1867. She entered service under Goodrich Transportation Co. by 1869, working Lake Michigan routes.
- 1871: Collided near Fighting Island, Detroit River, and sank. Later raised and repaired.
- 1875: Overhauled; further repairs in 1881 at Miller Brothers Yard (boiler and engine).
- 1880: Converted to a steam barge; 263 GRT / 169 NRT.
- 1887: Major rebuild, enlarged to 146.9 × 28.9 × 12.9 ft; 520 GRT / 270 NRT.
- 1888: Grounded near Port Huron, MI, and burned. Rebuilt again in 1889 (146 × 29.3 × 11.2 ft).
- 1909: Fitted with new scotch boiler (Kingsford Machine Works), steam pressure 106 psi.
- 1916: Sold to American Box Co., Cleveland; then to Canadian registry as C134517 (sold “to aliens”).
Her long service included work in lumber, coal, and freight. Like many older propellers, she shifted hands frequently, serving industrial operators across both U.S. and Canadian waters.
Significant Incidents
- No fatalities recorded in available incident reports. Crew names appear in U.S. enrollment records (Buffalo, Detroit, Cleveland).
Final Disposition
The St. Joseph ended her career around 1919–1925. Reports suggest she sank in harbor at Ashtabula, OH, and was later abandoned in Sarnia’s boneyard of obsolete vessels. Registry was closed in 1925. No wreck site is presently documented; likely dismantled or decayed in shallow water.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No confirmed wreck site. Vessel presumed dismantled in Sarnia after registry closure in 1925.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”st-joesph-us-23354″ title=”References & Links”]
While the St. Joseph no longer exists as a dive site, her history remains a testament to the evolution of maritime transport on the Great Lakes.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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