The 127′ three masted barquentine “Sir C.T. Van Straubenzie was built in 1875 at Saint Catherines, ON. She was owned by the Pittsburgh and Erie Coal Company, under the command of Captain Thomas Horne on the evening of September 27th, 1909 when she was struck by the passenger steamer, “City of Erie”. She was so badly damaged that several crew members were unable to escape before she filled with water.

Today the Straubenzie lies upright in 200 feet of water, and is a fantastic sight. Due to her many details and relatively good condition, she is one of the most popular tech dives on Lake Erie. There are so many details, it would be pointless to try to include them all here. Her foremast is standing. The anchor windlass is in place and there are two anchors, one on the port deck, the other in the mud off the port bow. The ships wheel is a magnificent sight as is the broken yawl boat leaning against the port rail. This wreck is not to be missed!

Expect visibility in excess of 50 feet, with bottom temperatures in the range of 38-42 degrees. Dress warm and hope there’s hot coffee on the boat afterwards!