1844                                            Empire                                             1870

Wooden sidewheel Great Lakes passenger and package freight vessel

Built at Cleveland OH by George W. Jones
Launched June 5, 1844
First U.S. registered vessel over 1000 tons
Largest steamship in the world when built

260’ LOA,
2 decks, hatches @ 24’, coal-fired boilers, inclined high pressure engine, 600 IHP

Enrolled at Cleveland OH Aug 15, 1844 (#
253’6” x 32’8½” x 14’2”, 1140 72/95 tons    to:
D. N. Barney et al., Cleveland OH (home port Cleveland OH)

Sold 1847 to Henry Randall, Buffalo NY (home port to Buffalo NY)

Sold 1848 to C. Dwight Jr., New York NY

Sold 1852 to Michigan Southern Rail Road Co., 

Home port to Michigan [sic] 1855

Laid up late in the 1857 season because of the Panic of 1857.  By the time the economy recovered, the railroad lines around Lake Erie had been completed and the large vessels of her type were no longer needed.

Sold 1862 to John S. Noyes and Henry W. Burt ½ each, Buffalo NY (home port to Buffalo NY).  Rebuilt to sloop for the lumber trade at Detroit MI by Clark Shipyard, to 1 deck
Remeasured to 251’ x 33’6” x 12’8”, 1031 34/95 tons

Remeasured 1865 under Act of May 6, 1864 (new measuring rules) to 255.1 x 33.3 x 12.7, 704.00 tons      US 8559  

Sold 1867 to John and Thomas McGregor ½ each, Detroit MI (home port to Detroit MI)

Converted 1870 to bulk freighter   

Stranded Nov 12, 1870 near Port Rowan ON, Lake Erie.  Enroute from Port Huron MI to Buffalo NY with a cargo of lumber, sprang leak in heavy storm on Lake Erie and was beached intentionally to avoid foundering.  Hull broke in two.  Enrollment surrendered June 9, 1871.

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