Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: ST. MARY
- Type: Propeller Steamship
- Year Built: 1857
- Builder: Unknown (typical for mid-19th century propellers on the upper lakes)
- Dimensions: Approx. 150–170 ft (estimated); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Port Huron, Michigan, dock area
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Original Owners: Banks & Sutherland, Port Huron, Michigan
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The ST. MARY was a wooden-hulled Great Lakes propeller steamship, built in 1857, used for general freight and passenger transport on the upper lakes. She belonged to a common class of versatile propeller-driven wooden steamers that dominated regional trade in the 1850s–1870s, supporting commerce through varied cargoes and schedules.
Description
ST. MARY had a routine operational career under various owners before ending up with Banks & Sutherland of Port Huron. Her service would have included transporting grain, lumber, general merchandise, and passengers along Lake Huron and connected waterways. She operated for nearly three decades without major recorded mishaps until her destruction.
On December 1, 1885, the ST. MARY caught fire while tied up at a Port Huron dock. The fire spread rapidly through her wooden hull and superstructure, and she burned to the waterline. Eventually, the hull settled and sank alongside the dock, leaving her a total constructive loss. There were no casualties reported, and no significant salvage is recorded.
History
Burned to a total loss and sank at the Port Huron dock on December 1, 1885. Declared a total wreck, with no subsequent rebuilding or reuse.
Significant Incidents
- December 1, 1885: Caught fire while tied up at Port Huron dock, leading to total loss.
Final Disposition
Burned to a total loss and sank at the Port Huron dock on December 1, 1885. Declared a total wreck, with no subsequent rebuilding or reuse.
Current Condition & Accessibility
It is likely that no trace remains, as harbor cleanup and development in Port Huron would have removed or buried any surviving hull material.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”st-mary-1857″ title=”References & Links”]
The ST. MARY is a typical example of the many wooden propeller steamships of the mid-19th century whose careers ended through fire, a persistent hazard for such vessels. Her loss at Port Huron marks yet another chapter in the volatile story of early Great Lakes steam navigation.
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.
Identification & Site Information
- Name: ST. MARY
- Year Built: 1857
- Type: Propeller Steamship
- Hull Material: Wood
- Builder: Unknown (typical for mid-19th century propellers on the upper lakes)
- Length: Approx. 150–170 feet (estimated, as precise records are scarce)
- Owner at Time of Loss: Banks & Sutherland, Port Huron, Michigan
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Location of Loss: Port Huron, Michigan, dock area
- Date Lost: December 1, 1885
- Depth: Shallow, dockside
Vessel Type Description
The ST. MARY was a wooden-hulled Great Lakes propeller steamship, built in 1857, used for general freight and passenger transport on the upper lakes. She belonged to a common class of versatile propeller-driven wooden steamers that dominated regional trade in the 1850s–1870s, supporting commerce through varied cargoes and schedules.
History
ST. MARY had a routine operational career under various owners before ending up with Banks & Sutherland of Port Huron. Her service would have included transporting grain, lumber, general merchandise, and passengers along Lake Huron and connected waterways. She operated for nearly three decades without major recorded mishaps until her destruction.
On December 1, 1885, the ST. MARY caught fire while tied up at a Port Huron dock. The fire spread rapidly through her wooden hull and superstructure, and she burned to the waterline. Eventually, the hull settled and sank alongside the dock, leaving her a total constructive loss. There were no casualties reported, and no significant salvage is recorded.
Final Disposition
Burned to a total loss and sank at the Port Huron dock on December 1, 1885. Declared a total wreck, with no subsequent rebuilding or reuse.
NOTMARs & Advisories
No current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) apply, as the vessel was lost within a dock area and likely removed in the 19th century.
Located By & Date
The ST. MARY’s final location was known in 1885 at the Port Huron dock; there are no modern archaeological surveys or remains reported.
Current Condition & Accessibility
It is likely that no trace remains, as harbor cleanup and development in Port Huron would have removed or buried any surviving hull material.
Resources & Links
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• Port Huron Maritime Museum
• Save Ontario Shipwrecks
Conclusion
The ST. MARY is a typical example of the many wooden propeller steamships of the mid-19th century whose careers ended through fire, a persistent hazard for such vessels. Her loss at Port Huron marks yet another chapter in the volatile story of early Great Lakes steam navigation.
Keywords
ST. MARY, Port Huron, Propeller Steamship, Fire Loss, Wooden Steamship, Great Lakes Shipwreck, Maritime History, 19th Century