Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: T. S. Christie
- Type: Wooden steambarge (steam-powered bulk freighter)
- Year Built: 1885
- Builder: F. W. Wheeler, West Bay City, Michigan
- Dimensions: 160 ft × 30 ft × 19'6" (48.8 m × 9.1 m × 5.9 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 533.39 gross / 408.52 net tons
- Location: Stranded at Barr Creek, ~4 mi (6.4 km) north of Manistee, Michigan
- Official Number: 145402
- Original Owners: Bay City & Cleveland Transportation Co.; Marinette Transportation Co.
- Number of Masts: 2 (schooner-rigged)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A mid-sized wooden steambarge, combining steam-powered propulsion with auxiliary schooner rigging. Built for bulk cargo trading—primarily cordwood and lumber—common in Great Lakes commerce at the turn of the century.
Description
Designed with a robust hull and voluminous deckhouse, the T. S. Christie accommodated heavy bulk loads. Her steeple compound engine and schooner masts allowed both mechanical and wind-assisted navigation—a hallmark of her era.
History
- 1885: Launched and enrolled at Detroit under Bay City & Cleveland Transportation Co.
- 1886–1906: Ownership shifted through several firms; significant rebuilds and remeasurements in 1886 and 1902 tailored for Chicago-based lumber operations.
- 1925: Underwent another refit at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, suggesting extended service longevity.
- 1933: Registered under Marinette Transportation Co. of Marinette, WI.
Significant Incidents
- 7 November 1933: Caught in a November blizzard, the T. S. Christie ran aground at Barr Creek. The severe storm broke her keel and she was subsequently destroyed by waves. All personnel aboard survived the wreck and reached shore safely.
Final Disposition
Caught in a November blizzard on 7 November 1933, the T. S. Christie ran aground at Barr Creek. The severe storm broke her keel (“broke back”) and she was subsequently destroyed by waves. All personnel aboard survived the wreck and reached shore safely.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Not located as an underwater site. Shore-stranded and entirely broken apart, the remains at Barr Creek were not salvaged in a systematic dive or survey. No wreck site exists offshore to document.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”t-s-christie-us-145402″ title=”References & Links”]
The T. S. Christie exemplifies durable steambarge design of the late 19th century, serving nearly half a century before succumbing to a fierce November storm in 1933. Despite her violent death at Barr Creek, all hands survived—a testament to the resilience of her crew. Although no physical wreck remains, her story adds a compelling chapter to Great Lakes maritime lore.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: T. S. Christie
- Year Built: 1885
- Official No.: 145402
- Built at: West Bay City, Michigan by F. W. Wheeler
- Type: Wooden steambarge (steam-powered bulk freighter)
- Hull Material: Wood; single deck
- Masts: 2 (schooner-rigged)
- Propulsion: Single-screw; steeple compound engine with 19″ & 36″ cylinders, ~300 hp @ 92 rpm; 90″×16′ tubular boiler at 95 psi
- Dimensions: 160′ × 30′ × 19’6″ (48.8 × 9.1 × 5.9 m)
- Tonnage: 533.39 gross / 408.52 net tons
- Final Location: Stranded at Barr Creek, ~4 mi (6.4 km) north of Manistee, Michigan, Lake Michigan
- Date of Loss: 7 November 1933
- Cause: Driven ashore in a storm/blizzard; broke its back and disintegrated
- Final Cargo: Cordwood
- Casualties: None; crew reached shore safely (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, buchananlibrary.org)
Vessel Ty
A mid-sized wooden steambarge, combining steam-powered propulsion with auxiliary schooner rigging. Built for bulk cargo trading—primarily cordwood and lumber—common in Great Lakes commerce at the turn of the century.
Description
Designed with a robust hull and voluminous deckhouse, the T. S. Christie accommodated heavy bulk loads. Her steeple compound engine and schooner masts allowed both mechanical and wind-assisted navigation—a hallmark of her era.
History
- 1885: Launched and enrolled at Detroit under Bay City & Cleveland Transportation Co.
- 1886–1906: Ownership shifted through several firms; significant rebuilds and remeasurements in 1886 and 1902 tailored for Chicago-based lumber operations .
- 1925: Underwent another refit at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, suggesting extended service longevity.
- 1933: Registered under Marinette Transportation Co. of Marinette, WI.
Final Disposition
Caught in a November blizzard on 7 November 1933, the T. S. Christie ran aground at Barr Creek. The severe storm broke her keel (“broke back”) and she was subsequently destroyed by waves. All personnel aboard survived the wreck and reached shore safely (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Located By & Date Found
Not located as an underwater site. Shore-stranded and entirely broken apart, the remains at Barr Creek were not salvaged in a systematic dive or survey. No wreck site exists offshore to document.
Notmars & Advisories
None active. Located well above the low-water line on Barr Creek beach, the wreck posed no hazard to navigation and is not included in modern Notices to Mariners.
Resources & Link
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – entry for T. S. Christie, detailing storm wreck at Barr Creek (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
- Wisconsin/Great Lakes marine directories – referenced for engine and ownership history
Conclusion
The T. S. Christie exemplifies durable steambarge design of the late 19th century, serving nearly half a century before succumbing to a fierce November storm in 1933. Despite her violent death at Barr Creek, all hands survived—testament to the resilience of her crew. Although no physical wreck remains, her story adds a compelling chapter to Great Lakes maritime lore.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
T. S. Christie, steambarge, wooden bulk freighter, Barr Creek wreck, 1933, cordwood cargo, November blizzard, Lake Michigan grounding, shorewreck, Great Lakes steam vessels