(Wooden Propeller Package Freighter, built 1875; lost December 4, 1918)

Vessel Identity & Registry

• Original Name: Portage, built in 1875 at Buffalo, NY, by Union Dry Dock (Hull #15)
• Renamed: Became George H. Van Vleck in 1910 after Conversion from a package freighter to bulk freight operations
• Official Number: 150042
• Type: Wooden-hulled propeller, bulk freighter
• Dimensions: 238 × 35 × 13 ft, approx. 1,020 gross tons, 940 net tons

Final Incident (December 4, 1918)

• Date & Location: December 4, 1918, in the Detroit River at Wyandotte Channel (near Ecorse, MI)
• Weather Conditions: High winds and strong river current during a winter gale
• Event Summary:
  Van Vleck was blown off her moorings and into the main channel, where she was driven aground by strong current. Her remaining structure capsized or settled grounded, and she was later declared a Total Loss and Abandoned.
  No lives were lost during the incident.
• Later Notes: The vessel had earlier incidents including fires and sinking events in 1903, 1907, and July 1914—documented in shipping logs as separate losses or rebuildings.

Incident Summary Table

Recommendations for Further Research

• Local Newspaper Archives (Dec 1918)
  • Detroit Free Press and Wyandotte Echo likely contain detailed reports on the grounding—especially given the wartime shipping context.
• Harbor Authority & Tow Logs
  • Records from the Detroit River harbor authority may include docking, salvage attempts, or warnings about hazards in the channel.
• Hydrographic Chart Analysis (1910s era)
  • Survey charts could clarify the precise grounding point in the channel and help define navigational risk zones.
• Registry & Inspection Records
  • U.S. Inspection Service files might capture prior loss events (1903, 1907, 1914) and the final abandonment documentation.
• Archival Follow‑Up on Demolition or Wreck Site
  • Possible underwater debris records in municipal or NOAA logs—useful for heritage or dive interest.