(Built in 1891; lost August 9, 1925)
Vessel Identification
- Originally launched in 1891 as the Steamer City of Berlin, built by J. Davidson at West Bay City (Hull # 40). Later named Charles A. Luck, Richland Star, and finally Oakwood (c. 1925).
- Official Number: 126717
- Type: Wooden propeller bulk freighter (~298 ft × 41 × 21; approx. 2,050 gt / 1,711 nt)
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Voyage and Cause of Loss
- Loss Date: August 9, 1925
- Location: Became stranded in Buffalo’s Blackwell’s Canal, Lake Erie
- Incident Circumstances:
- Oakwood grounded in the canal during heavy weather, sustaining Hull damage.
- Subsequently caught fire during inspection/repair, leading to Total Loss by fire.
- She had previously grounded on June 8, 1925 at Miller’s Point and had been salvaged some weeks prior, but then burned on August 9.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Fatalities: None reported (crew survived)
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Wreck and Aftermath
- The burned remains were later further dismantled in 1934 to recover metal components—effectively eliminating any intact wreck.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Names | City of Berlin, Charles A. Luck, Richland Star, Oakwood |
| Built & Builder | 1891, West Bay City, MI (Hull #40) |
| Official Number | 126717 |
| Dimensions / Tonnage | ~298 × 41 × 21 ft; 2,050 gt / 1,711 nt |
| Loss Date | August 9, 1925 |
| Location | Blackwell’s Canal, Buffalo, Lake Erie |
| Cause of Loss | Stranded then burned during surveying |
| Casualties | None |
| Final Disposition | Burned and later salvaged for metal parts |
Context & Significance
- Oakwood’s loss highlights the risks even mature steel or wooden bulk freighters faced in familiar port entries—especially after a grounding followed by fire.
- The vessel had already been weakened by an earlier stranding (June 8, 1925) at Miller’s Point, and recovery attempts culminated in a fire catastrophe just two months later.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files) - The final dismantling by fire in 1934 to recover metal suggests she was deemed unsalvageable as an operating Hull.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Additional Research Opportunities
- Buffalo and Blackwell’s Canal records (1925): port logs, salvage contracts, and fire reports may detail the stranding and subsequent fire.
- Local newspaper archives (e.g. Buffalo Evening News, Buffalo Courier) from June–August 1925 for grounding and fire coverage.
- Corporate records or underwriters’ files: Oakwood’s ownership history and loss settlement may be traced in insurance filings.
- Salvage documentation from 1934: records of metal recovery may exist in municipal or corporate archives.