Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Unidentified Old Barge
• Type: Barge (likely wooden)
• Dimensions:
• Depth at Wreck Site: 3 m / 10 ft
• Location: Nearshore, south of the Ellsworth steamer wreck

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

This vessel is presumed to be a wooden flat-bottomed barge, a utilitarian type used throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. These barges were integral to industrial supply chains on the Great Lakes, transporting timber, coal, iron ore, gravel, and bulk cargo between ports and transfer facilities. Typically non-motorized, they were towed by steamers or tugboats.

Description

The wreck lies just south of the Ellsworth steamer in accessible, nearshore waters. It appears to be relatively intact and well-positioned for shallow dive inspection. The surrounding area contains minimal current, with good conditions for photography, in-situ mapping, and material sampling. No cargo remnants have been confirmed.

History

While this barge is unidentified, it is consistent in type and placement with support vessels or freight barges commonly operated in proximity to steamers. Such vessels were typically unregistered or minimally documented, particularly if used as lighters, scows, or auxiliary barges for dredging or short-haul freight.

The nearby Ellsworth (a well-documented steamer wreck) may have been associated with this barge either operationally or coincidentally. Further survey work is necessary to determine if the vessels share construction features, operational history, or loss timelines.

Significant Incidents

• This barge represents a lesser-documented but critically important class of vessel from the Great Lakes’ commercial era. Its shallow depth and proximity to a known wreck make it an ideal target for comparative maritime archaeology. Such barges are often overlooked, despite their fundamental role in lake commerce and port operations.

Final Disposition

Though specific finders are not noted, the barge is now documented in diver and regional wreck directories. The Shotline Diving image archive includes a site photo as of 2023.

Current Condition & Accessibility

None officially listed. However, shallow obstructions in this area warrant caution for small craft operators and swimmers.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

Though unidentified, the old barge offers significant interpretive value. It complements the story of steam-era lake transport and provides researchers and divers with accessible, tangible insight into a class of working vessels essential to the Great Lakes economy.