Identification & Site Information

  • Vessel Name: AURORA
  • •Type: Wooden Bulk Freighter (later converted into a Schooner-Barge)
  • Year Built: 1887
  • Builder: Miller & Murphy, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Official Number: 106493
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 290 feet (88.4 meters)
    • Width (Beam): 41 feet (12.5 meters)
    • Depth: 22.33 feet (6.8 meters)
  • Tonnage:
  • Final Location:
    • Initial Scuttling: Near Bois Blanc Island, Detroit River, in 18 feet (5.5 meters) of water
    • Final Loss: Ferrysburg, Michigan, 1932

Vessel Type Description

The Aurora was a wooden propeller-driven bulk freighter, designed for transporting large quantities of cargo, including grain, coal, and other bulk goods, across the Great Lakes. Its significant size and robust wooden Hull made it a key player in the bustling maritime trade of the late 19th century. After its recovery and Conversion in 1900, the vessel functioned as a Schooner-Barge, a common repurposing for older freighters.

History

The Aurora was launched in 1887 by Miller & Murphy in Cleveland, Ohio. Built for John Corrigan of Cleveland, the ship was well-suited for the transport of heavy cargoes across the Great Lakes. In its early years, the Aurora primarily carried grain and other goods, contributing to the economic lifeline of the region.

On December 12, 1898, tragedy struck when the Aurora stranded near Bois Blanc Island in the Detroit River. The vessel, carrying 85,000 bushels of wheat and towing the Barge Aurania, caught fire. The fire gutted the freighter while it was immobilized by ice, and though the ship was destroyed, no casualties were reported. The wreck was scuttled in shallow waters nearby.

In 1900, the burned Hull was recovered and converted into a Schooner-Barge, extending its service life. The Aurora subsequently came under the ownership of the Morton Salt Company and later served as a sand Barge for the Construction Materials Company in Chicago.

The vessel’s final years were marked by decline and abandonment. In 1927, the Aurora was left at Harbor Island, Grand Haven, Michigan. On the north side of the island, it was set ablaze in 1932, marking the end of its long and storied career.

Final Disposition

The Aurora experienced multiple stages of loss:

1. 1898: Gutted by fire near Bois Blanc Island in the Detroit River.

2. 1900: Recovered and converted to a Schooner-Barge.

3. 1932: Destroyed by fire after being Abandoned at Harbor Island, Grand Haven, Michigan.

The vessel’s remains were not preserved, and its final resting site near Harbor Island is unlikely to contain significant remnants.

NOTMARs & Advisories

There are no active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) concerning the wreck of the Aurora. Its multiple locations of loss—first near Bois Blanc Island and later at Harbor Island—are not currently marked as Navigation Hazards.

Resources & Links

• David Swayze Shipwreck File

• Bowling Green State University Archives

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes

• Fr. Edward J Dowling Collection

• Great Lakes Vessel History Database

Conclusion

The Aurora exemplifies the dynamic life cycle of Great Lakes vessels during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. From its inception as a bulk freighter to its Conversion into a Schooner-Barge, and its eventual destruction, the Aurora reflects the adaptability and eventual obsolescence of wooden ships in the face of advancing technology and changing economic conditions. Despite its fiery demise, the vessel’s legacy remains as a testament to the importance of maritime commerce in shaping the Great Lakes region.

Keywords

#Aurora #GreatLakesFreighter #Shipwreck #DetroitRiver #BoisBlancIsland #LakeHuron #SchoonerBarge #19thCenturyShipping #GrandHavenMichigan #GreatLakesHistory