Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Two Brothers
- Type: Wooden barge, two-masted
- Year Built: 1848
- Builder: Jourdan, Michigan City, Indiana
- Dimensions: Length: 103 ft (31.4 m); Beam: 24 ft (7.3 m); Depth of hold: 9 ft (2.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 212 GT
- Location: River Sydenham, near Wallaceburg, Ontario, Lake St. Clair
- Official Number: 24398
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Two Brothers was originally built as a brig, later converted to a schooner, and finally rigged as a barge.
Description
The Two Brothers was originally built as a brig named C. B. Blair in 1848 at Michigan City, Indiana. By 1863, she was converted into a schooner. By 1870, she had been rigged as a barge, reflecting the transition of many aging sailing vessels into unrigged freight carriers, typically towed by steamers. Renamed Two Brothers in 1867, she continued service in the Great Lakes bulk cargo trade, likely transporting lumber, coal, or other heavy materials.
By the early 1870s, the vessel had deteriorated and was declared unseaworthy, leading to her being laid up at a dock near Wallaceburg, Ontario on the Sydenham River, a tributary of Lake St. Clair.
History
On September 5, 1872, while out of service at dock, the Two Brothers caught fire and burned to a total loss. The cause of the fire is unknown, but vessel fires at dock were commonly caused by accidental ignition from a nearby source, sabotage or insurance fraud, or onboard equipment or materials catching fire. Some reports suggest that she may have survived for a few more years, indicating that portions of the vessel may have been salvaged and used elsewhere.
Significant Incidents
- September 5, 1872: Caught fire while laid up at dock, resulting in total loss.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss after the fire. Possibly survived in some capacity, but no official records confirm continued service. No modern discovery of wreckage.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No confirmed discovery of remains. Given that she burned at a river dock, any remnants would likely have been removed or deteriorated over time.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”two-brothers-c-b-blair-us-24398″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Two Brothers was a well-traveled Great Lakes vessel, beginning as a brig, later a schooner, and finally a barge. By the time of her loss in 1872, she was no longer in active service and was destroyed by fire while docked near Wallaceburg, Ontario. While some reports hint at the possibility of continued use after the fire, no official records confirm her survival, making her another forgotten casualty of Great Lakes maritime history.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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