Identification & Site Information

  • Name(s):
    • E.K. COLLINS (1853-1854)
    • ARK (1854-1866)
  • Originally a sidewheel passenger Steamer (E.K. COLLINS)
  • Later converted into a wooden Barge (ARK)
  • Built: 1853 by John Bushnell in Newport, Michigan
  • Rebuilt: 1857, converted into a Barge after the burning of E.K. COLLINS
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 151 feet (46.0 meters)
    • Width: 32 feet (9.75 meters)
    • Depth: 8 feet (2.4 meters)
    • Gross Tonnage: 268 tons
  • Construction Material: Wood
  • Final Disposition:

Vessel Type Description

The ARK began its life as the sidewheel passenger Steamer E.K. COLLINS, operating on the Detroit River. After a devastating fire in 1854 that claimed 23 lives, the vessel’s Hull was repurposed into the Barge ARK in 1857. As a Barge, the ARK was used primarily for transporting light cargoes across the Great Lakes, often towed in convoys by steam tugs.

History

E.K. COLLINS (1853–1854)

Built as a sidewheel passenger Steamer, the E.K. COLLINS was one of many vessels providing passenger and freight services in the mid-19th century. Tragedy struck in 1854 when the Steamer caught fire while on the Detroit River, resulting in the deaths of ten passengers and thirteen crew members. The Hull of the burned vessel was salvaged and later repurposed.

ARK (1857–1866)

The salvaged Hull of the E.K. COLLINS was Rebuilt into the Barge ARK in 1857, marking its transition from a passenger vessel to a workhorse of the Great Lakes. Over its operational lifespan, the ARK underwent changes in ownership and rigging to suit its utilitarian role.

On October 25, 1866, the ARK was part of a tow convoy, accompanied by the barges ELLIOTT, Detroit, and Ontario, and managed by a Tugboat. While downbound from Saginaw, Michigan, the ARK became separated from the convoy during a storm and disappeared. Wreckage identified as belonging to the ARK began washing ashore about 100 miles north of Goderich, Ontario, confirming its loss. Tragically, all six crew members aboard perished.

The ARK was carrying a light cargo at the time, and its three towmates survived the ordeal, highlighting the peril of towing barges during severe Great Lakes storms.

Final Disposition

  • Date Lost: October 25, 1866
  • Location: Lake Huron, approximately 100 miles north of Goderich, Ontario
  • Wreckage Discovery: Late November 1866
  • Casualties: Six lives lost

Legacy

The ARK’s transformation from the ill-fated E.K. COLLINS to a working Barge represents the ingenuity and resourcefulness of 19th-century shipbuilding practices. Its sinking underscores the dangers of towing operations on the Great Lakes, particularly during the unpredictable storms that often claimed vessels and lives. The ARK’s story is a poignant reminder of the challenges and tragedies faced by mariners in this era.

Resources & Links

Tags

#GreatLakes #LakeHuron #E.K.Collins #ARK #GreatLakesShipwreck #MaritimeHistory #BargeConversion #Shipwrecks