Identification & Site Information

  • Name: GEORGE W. DOLE
  • Year Built: 1838
  • Official Number: None (pre-registration era)
  • Vessel Type: Steamer (converted to Schooner in 1846)
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Number of Decks: 1
  • Construction and Ownership
  • Built at: Chicago, Illinois
  • Builder: Calvin Case
  • Original Owners: Newberry & Dole and the Michigan Lake Steamboat Co., Detroit, Michigan
  • Dimensions
    • Length: 125 feet (38.1 metres)
    • Beam: 18 feet (5.5 metres)
    • Depth: 7.5 feet (2.3 metres)
  • Tonnage (old style): 162 22/95
  • Propulsion: Sidewheel (originally)
  • Engine Type: Vertical beam (walking beam)
  • Final Location: Buffalo, New York (Lake Erie)
  • Date Lost: 1856
  • How Lost: Sank
  • Notes: Originally burned in 1840 on Lake Michigan, later Rebuilt as a Schooner in 1846, then lost by sinking in 1856

Vessel Type Description
The GEORGE W. DOLE was first built as a wooden sidewheel Steamer with a vertical beam engine, a typical power arrangement for early steamers on the lakes. Its design was suited for passenger and cargo trade between emerging ports on Lake Michigan. Following an 1840 fire, the vessel was Rebuilt as a Schooner and continued operations under sail, which was a relatively common practice for recovering burned hulls.

History
Launched in 1838 at Chicago by Calvin Case, the GEORGE W. DOLE initially ran between Chicago, St. Joseph, and Michigan City, becoming part of the earliest steam-driven commercial networks on Lake Michigan. Enrolled at Detroit in 1839, it expanded its trade to include Buffalo, New York. The Steamer burned on Lake Michigan in 1840 but was salvaged and Rebuilt as a Schooner in 1846. Afterward, she operated for nearly a decade on various cargo runs, carrying grain among other goods.

In 1850, the GEORGE W. DOLE went ashore with the Schooner Minnesota and the Brig ENTERPRISE near the Grand River, Michigan, but was released. Finally, in 1856, she sank in Lake Erie off Buffalo, closing a career of nearly 18 years, reflecting the hard use and repeated rebuilding typical of early Great Lakes steamers.

Final Disposition
Declared a Total Loss after sinking in Lake Erie in 1856; no salvage recorded.

NOTMARs & Advisories
None currently issued.

Located By & Date
The wreck has not been confirmed or surveyed archaeologically; its exact position remains unknown.

Current Condition & Accessibility
Unknown; presumed completely lost.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The GEORGE W. DOLE exemplifies the era of early Great Lakes wooden steamers, showing how vessels were adapted and repurposed to extend service lives. Her ultimate loss in 1856 closes a chapter on an early workhorse of the lakes, linking the development of steam commerce with the transition to sail as economic conditions changed.

Keywords: sidewheel Steamer, Schooner Conversion, Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Great Lakes shipwreck, wooden Steamer