Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Dan Allen
  • Type: Wooden Barge (formerly possibly a Steamer named Vanderbilt)
  • Build Year: 1872 (as a Barge, Rebuilt after a previous wreck in 1880)
  • Original Build Year: Likely 1855, Milan, Ohio (as the Vanderbilt)
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 117 feet (35.7 metres)
    • Beam: 23 feet (7 metres)
    • Depth: 8 feet (2.4 metres)
    • Tonnage: Gross 181 tons
  • Official Number: 35474
  • Ownership: G.W. Allen of Port Huron, Michigan
  • Location of Incident: Black River, Port Huron, Michigan
  • Status: Wrecked and flattened using dynamite in August 1885

Vessel Type Description

The Dan Allen was a wooden Barge, Rebuilt in Erie, Pennsylvania, after an earlier wreck in 1880. Originally believed to be a Canadian Steamer named Vanderbilt, the vessel transitioned into a Barge configuration to continue serving Great Lakes shipping operations. Barges like the Dan Allen were essential for transporting bulk goods across the waterways, particularly in support of industrial trade.

History

The Dan Allen had a complex history, marked by transformations and challenges:

Origins

The vessel was initially thought to have been built in 1855 in Milan, Ohio, as a Steamer named Vanderbilt. After sustaining damage in a wreck in 1880, it was Rebuilt as a Barge in Erie, Pennsylvania, and renamed Dan Allen.

Final Incident

On April 9, 1885, during the spring breakup, ice flows pushed the Dan Allen into a collision with the Steamer Burlington and the Barge H.F. Church. The impact drove the vessels into the Military Street bridge on the Black River in Port Huron, Michigan. The Dan Allen became jammed under the H.F. Church, creating a legal dispute over which vessel should be removed first. The delay in resolution caused significant damage to the Dan Allen, leading to its eventual loss.

By August 1885, the remains of the Dan Allen were flattened using dynamite, marking the end of the vessel’s service life.

Final Disposition

The Dan Allen was declared a Total Loss after the collision in April 1885. Its wreckage was cleared and destroyed with dynamite later that year to prevent obstruction in the Black River.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are associated with the Dan Allen wreck, as the site has been fully cleared since 1885.

Resources & Links

Keywords

Dan Allen, Vanderbilt, wooden Barge, Black River shipwreck, Port Huron, Great Lakes maritime history, 19th-century shipwrecks, spring breakup incident, Military Street bridge.

Conclusion

The Dan Allen represents the resilience and adaptability of Great Lakes vessels during the 19th century. Its transformation from a Steamer to a Barge, its role in regional trade, and its ultimate destruction due to natural forces and human delay underscore the challenges faced by maritime operators of the era. Although the wreck site was cleared, the Dan Allen’s history provides insight into the industrial and legal complexities of Great Lakes shipping during a pivotal period in its development.