Identification & Site Information

  • Name(s): ROWENA
  • Official Number: 21785
  • Year Built: 1856
  • Builder: Theron Moore, Black River, Ohio
  • Vessel Type: Scow Schooner
  • Construction: Wood, single Deck
  • Original Owner: Theron Moore, Black River, Ohio
  • Location Built: Black River, Ohio (present-day Lorain)
  • Final Location: Near Michigan City, Indiana – Lake Michigan
  • Date Lost: 21 November 1876
  • Cause of Loss: Storm – driven ashore; navigational hazard misplaced

Vessel Type

Scow schooners like the ROWENA were rugged, shallow-Draft cargo vessels optimized for the shallow ports and rivers of the Great Lakes. Featuring flat bottoms and boxy hulls, these vessels were easy to build and maintain, typically used for carrying bulk commodities such as lumber, coal, and agricultural goods.

Description

  • Length: 90 ft (27.4 m)
  • Beam: 22.7 ft (6.9 m)
  • Depth: 5.9 ft (1.8 m)
  • Tonnage: 108 tons (old measurement)
  • Masts: 2
  • Decks: 1

With dimensions characteristic of a mid-sized Great Lakes scow, the ROWENA was capable of navigating both major lake routes and minor tributaries. Her relatively shallow Draft allowed access to undeveloped harbours and loading facilities.

History

  • 1856: Enrolled at Cleveland, Ohio; owned by her builder, Theron Moore.
  • 1863: Enrolled at Chicago, Illinois – likely reflecting westward expansion of operations.
  • 1864: Owned by Parsons & Boyer of Chicago, indicating use in commercial freight out of Illinois ports.

For two decades, the ROWENA operated on the lower lakes, likely hauling lumber and coal, given her design and trade centers. Her registration in both Cleveland and Chicago illustrates typical port-hopping of freight scows.

Final Disposition

On 21 November 1876, the ROWENA was driven ashore near Michigan City, Indiana during a Lake Michigan storm. Contributing to the disaster was the relocation of a navigational aid, which misled the vessel into danger. She was declared a Total Loss.

Located By & Date Found

The wreck has not been conclusively located, and no documented modern recovery or survey exists for the ROWENA.

NOTMARs & Advisories

None noted. The wreck is not listed as a modern navigational hazard.

Current Condition & Accessibility

  • Status: Presumed destroyed or buried in sediment.
  • Diver Access: No known wreckage is accessible; site presumed nearshore and scattered.
  • Survey Status: No public sonar or dive survey confirmed.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The ROWENA exemplifies the utilitarian scow Schooner class that supported Great Lakes commerce in the mid-19th century. Though not well-remembered individually, ships like ROWENA were vital to regional supply chains. Her demise underscores the navigational risks of the period, particularly as shipping depended heavily on accurate placement of buoys and lights.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

Tags: Rowena, scow Schooner, Lake Michigan shipwreck, Michigan City Indiana, 19th-century navigation, Great Lakes storm wrecks, wooden cargo schooners
Categories: Lake Michigan Wrecks, Scow Schooners, Pre-1870 Shipwrecks, Navigation Aid Failures
Glossary: Scow, Aground, Navigational Aid, Total Loss