Identification & Site Information

  • Name(s): Princeton
  • Year Built: 1845
  • Built At: Perrysburg, Ohio
  • Final Location: Near Van Buren Point or Barcelona, New York, Lake Erie
  • Date Lost: 20 April 1854
  • Final Depth: Approx. 16.8 m (55 ft)
  • Final Cargo: Farm implements, stoves, general merchandise
  • Cause of Loss: Ice damage leading to waterlogging and grounding; sank after abandonment

Vessel Type

Princeton was a wooden-hulled Great Lakes propeller Steamer, notable for pioneering design elements:

She was used primarily in package freight and passenger services.

Description

  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Rigging: 3 masts
  • Decks: 1
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 54.2 m (177 ft 10 in)
    • Beam: 7.5 m (24 ft 6 in)
    • Depth: 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in)
  • Tonnage: 455 tons (old measurement)
  • Powerplant:
    • 2 direct-acting horizontal engines, 24″ x 24″ cylinders
    • Twin Screw Propulsion
    • Boilers: 6′ x 14′, constructed at Auburn State Prison, NY
    • Notable as first Lakes Steamer to feature both upper cabin and twin screws

History

Launched on 17 March 1845 and enrolled at Buffalo Creek on 16 May, Princeton operated in the growing freight and passenger trade between Buffalo and western Great Lakes ports including Chicago. She often ran with sister ships Samson, Hercules, and St. Louis.

Significant incidents:

  • 1847: Collision with Brig Bunker Hill off Conneaut, OH.
  • 1848: Damaged in Lake Michigan gale; lost smokestack.
  • 1848: Rammed and sank Brig Empire 45 miles off St. Clair River.
  • 1851: Collided with and sank Schooner Mackinaw.
  • 1852: Ashore near Erie, PA, and later driven ashore again in a storm.
  • 1853: Carried rail freight for Great Western Railway; damaged by submerged obstruction in Lake Ontario.

Final Disposition

On 20 April 1854, Princeton was navigating Lake Erie when she encountered heavy ice near Van Buren Point or Barcelona, New York. The ice punctured her Hull, causing her to take on water. The crew Abandoned her as she drifted onto a reef and ultimately sank in about 55 feet (16.8 m) of water. Her machinery and significant cargo were salvaged in the fall of 1855.

Located By & Date Found

No confirmed modern archaeological discovery or survey of the wreck site has been published. The general location is known but the wreck may be broken or buried in sediment.

NOTMARs & Advisories

None noted.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Princeton was a technologically significant vessel for her era, representing early experimentation with twin-Screw Propulsion on the Great Lakes. Despite a relatively short service life, her frequent involvement in collisions and incidents highlights the challenges of early steam navigation on the inland seas. Her sinking after ice damage near Barcelona, NY, marked the end of an influential but troubled career.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms