(Wooden Barge; built unknown – lost September 1875)
Identification & Site Information
- Type: Wooden Barge, last in a tow consort
- Loss Date: September 1875 (approximate)—driven ashore in a storm
- Tow Vessel: Steam propeller Mayflower, towing barges including E. F. Gould, Sophia Smith, Thomas P. Sheldon, and Merrimac itself
- Location: Shoreline along Lake Michigan—specifically Long Point, likely in Illinois
- Event: Barge broke loose from its Towline during a storm, was driven ashore, and declared a Total Loss; by early November, Merrimac had been pounded to pieces by wave action (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Summary
The Merrimac, a wooden tow-Barge under Tug support from the prop Mayflower, parted tow during a severe storm in September 1875 off Lake Michigan’s Long Point. She washed ashore and was destroyed by surf within weeks, leaving no salvageable remains. No crew were aboard these “dumb” barges, and no casualties were recorded (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Further Research Opportunities
| Focus Area | Goal | Suggested Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Exact tow date & storm data | Pinpoint timeline and barometric context | NOAA historic storm logs, 1875 newspapers |
| Barge specs & ownership | Identify build origin and tow contract structure | HCGL enrollment files, Barge builder archives |
| Mayflower’s logs | Determine conditions leading to breakaway | Marine board inquiry, company logs |
| Salvage or cleanup efforts | To confirm debris fate and legal responsibility | Harbor authority/offshore cleanup documents |