Name F.T. Barney Builder W. Cheney Out of service October 23, 1868 Length 38 m Year built 1855 | Operator Lewis Wells Completed 1856 Area 9 ha Added to NRHP 19 August 1991 | |
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The F.T. Barney was a schooner; its wreck in Lake Huron near Rogers City, Michigan was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
The F.T. Barney was built in 1856 by William Cheney of Vermilion, Ohio, and was owned by Lewis Wells, also of Vermillion. In late 1857, she ran aground near Goderich, Ontario, but was successfully towed to Detroit for repairs.
Just after midnight on October 23, 1868, the Barney was traveling from Cleveland to Milwaukee with a load of coal. In Lake Huron near Rogers City, Michigan, the F.T. Barney collided with the schooner T.J. Bronson. The Barney sank in less than two minutes, but no lives were lost. Later investigation determined that both vessles were equally at fault.
The wreck remained undiscovered until 1987. It is in 160 feet of water, and is one of the most complete of a schooner of its era. The masts and deck equipment are still in place.