Identification & Vessel Details
- Name: George King
- Official number: 85313
- Type: Wooden propeller-driven bulk freight Steamer (commonly referred to as a “lumber hooker”)
- Built: 1874 by G. Koenig (King), Marine City, Michigan
- Dimensions: 176 ft length × 31 ft beam × 13 ft depth; 533 GRT, 381 NRT (CORE, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Incident & Loss Details
- Date of loss: September 20, 1926
- Location: Harbor at Buffalo, Lake Erie
- Cause: A catastrophic fire destroyed the vessel; she burned to a Total Loss (alcheminc.com)
- Casualties: None
Aftermath & Legacy
- The Hull was salvaged and repurposed as a dock in Buffalo, indicating partial or complete recovery of structural components (alcheminc.com)
Sources & Citations
- Alchem’s Lake Erie Shipwreck Map & Index — confirms vessel type, loss date, location, and post-fire Hull reuse (alcheminc.com)
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“G” selections) — provides build details, tonnage, and incident summary (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Research Gaps & Possible Next Steps
| Area | Recommended Actions |
|---|---|
| Construction records | Locate builder’s plans, launch photos, and engineering specifications from Marine City archives or G. Koenig family records (e.g., shipyard logs). |
| Fire incident investigation | Review 1926 Buffalo newspapers (e.g. Buffalo Courier, Buffalo Evening News) for coverage of the fire’s origin, firefighting response, and Hull salvage documentation. |
| Dock remnants | Investigate Buffalo harbor infrastructure records and historical photos for the dock built from the Hull—structures may still exist or be documented in city archives. |
| Maritime repurposing patterns | Examine U.S. Army Corps and Buffalo port records to trace repurposing of hulls into docks during the 1920s. |
| Site survey | Though the original wreck burnt at dock, remnants of the Hull may still exist underwater. A diver reconnaissance or sonar sweep near the original dock site could be valuable. |
Significance
George King exemplifies a late-19th-century wooden bulk Steamer whose lifecycle extended into infrastructure reuse—being burned and transformed into a dock. Her story illustrates both industrial practices of mid-Atlantic freight transport and recycling of Hull structures in the early 20th century. Investigating her remains and dock legacy would deepen understanding of heritage maritime engineering and harbor adaptation.