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The Cedarville was launched in 1927 at River Rouge MI as the A.F. Harvey, a straight-deck bulk carrier for the Pittsburg Steamship Company (US Steel). She was 604 ft. long (588 ft keel) with a triple expansion steam engine, fired  by coal.  The vessel was transferred to the Michigan Limestone Division (Bradley Transportation Line) and converted to a self-unloader at Defoe Shipyard in Bay City MI over the winter of 1957-58.

In the early morning of May 7, 1965, the Cedarville departed Port Calcite, near Rogers City, headed to Gary, IN with 14,411 tons of limestone with a crew of 35. As they neared the Straits of Mackinac, the fog thickened.  Due to a lack of communication, the Norwegian vessel Topdalsfjord collided with the Cedarville on her port side cutting a deep gash in her side between the seventh and eight hatch.

After briefly dropping anchor to consider the situation, the Cedarville’s Captain attempted to beach the vessel near Mackinaw City.   While still several miles offshore, at 10:25 am the Cedarville suddenly rolled over to starboard and sank in 105 feet of water about 3.5 Miles SE of the Mackinac Bridge south tower. Twenty-five crewmen were recovered alive from the cold lake, along with two others that succumbed due to exposure, and eight others went down with the ship.  All but one of the missing crewmen have been recovered, with one still listed as missing.

  The Cedarville is a favorite site in the Straits of Mackinac.  She is intact and lies on her starboard side, her forward section about 45 degrees from being totally inverted, and her stern section a little less inverted. Her massive size and inverted orientation makes for an interesting, but sometimes confusing dive. The cabins are visible along with lots of deck equipment and the fatal gash. 

Caution is warranted given her size, depth, upside down orientation and variable visibility.  Many hazards are present and penetration should not attempted without proper training, experience, planning and equipment.   Due to the orientation of the vessel to the currents, the visibility is often reduced to 35 ft or less but the ship still presents a great diving opportunity. 

The Eber Ward was named for the owner’s father, who had once served as keeper of Bois Blanc Island lighthouse, and was built for the Detroit and Lake Superior Line.   This vessel was built with 2 decks, and could handle package or bulk freight.  It was fitted with a powered unloading apparatus for grain cargo, and in later years it even sported electric lighting.

The Eber Ward left her winter quarters in Chicago and picked up a cargo of corn in Milwaukee, bound for Port Huron.  There was still ice in the Straits, and on the bright spring morning of April 20, 1909 the Captain faced a field of slush and windrow ice that appeared to be no obstacle to navigation.  The Ward’s bow was torn open by the ice and she sank within ten minutes, taking one lifeboat and five crewmen to their death.

 The wreck sits upright with cabins missing but hull intact, headed due south, about 5 miles West of the Mackinac Bridge in 145′ of water.  Due to the depths, this is an advanced dive and careful dive planning is warranted.  

Equipment is distributed around the deck, and several anchors decorate the bow, including a rare mushroom anchor just above the ice damaged timbers.  The engine room and cargo holds are accessible to trained divers. The smoke stack and damaged life boat are off the starboard side.