Identification & Site Information

• • Vessel Name: Jay Gould
• • Vessel Type: Steamer (Package Freighter, later converted to Passenger Steamer and Bulk Carrier)
• • Built By: Bidwell & Mason
• • Place of Construction: Buffalo, New York, USA
• • Year Built: 1869
• • Dimensions:
• • Length: 213.8 feet (65.2 m)
• • Beam: 33 feet (10.1 m)
• • Depth: 11.7 feet (3.6 m)
• • Gross Tonnage: 996.63 tons
• • Net Tonnage: 836.76 tons
• • Final Resting Place: Southeast Shoal, near Point Pelee, Lake Erie
• • Coordinates: N41° 51.530’, W82° 24.608’
• • Depth: 50 feet (17 meters)

Vessel Type Description

The Jay Gould was a wooden-hulled package freighter, later converted into a passenger Steamer and Bulk Carrier. It featured advanced technologies for its time, including a steeple compound engine and electric lights, and underwent significant modifications to meet the changing demands of Great Lakes shipping.

History

Construction and Early Service (1869-1877):

• Launched in Buffalo, New York, for the Union Steamboat Company, the Jay Gould was a technologically advanced vessel featuring a compound marine engine and twin stacks.

• It underwent an engine upgrade in 1874, increasing its power to 500 horsepower.

Incidents and Modifications (1877-1888):

• The vessel sustained damage in collisions, including incidents with the Tug Swain and Schooner G.S. Hazard in 1881-1882.

• Major repairs were undertaken in 1877 and 1879, addressing structural wear and Firebox Boiler issues.

Passenger Conversion and Upgrades (1885-1906):

• In 1885, the vessel was converted into a passenger Steamer, accommodating 30-40 passengers.

• A significant Rebuild in 1888 added steel arches and a full-length passenger cabin, expanding capacity to 100 passengers with 35 staterooms.

• Further repairs and modifications followed incidents such as striking reefs and sustaining Hull damage in collisions.

Bulk Carrier Conversion (1916):

• In 1916, the Jay Gould was converted into a Bulk Carrier, reflecting the growing demand for transporting commodities like sand and gravel. Ownership changed hands frequently during this period.

Final Voyage and Sinking (June 18, 1918):

• During a gale near Southeast Shoal Light, the vessel Foundered while carrying cargo. The crew was rescued by the Steamer Midvale, but the vessel sank to a depth of 40 feet.

• The wreck was later dynamited due to its hazard to navigation.

Final Resting Place

The wreck of the Jay Gould lies at a depth of 50 feet (17 meters) near Point Pelee in Lake Erie. While much of the vessel was damaged during its salvage and dynamiting, the wreck remains a significant historical artifact of Great Lakes maritime history.

Legacy and Significance

The Jay Gould’s career highlights the adaptability of Great Lakes vessels and the challenges of navigating treacherous waters. Its transitions from package freighter to passenger Steamer to Bulk Carrier reflect the evolving needs of maritime commerce during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Resources and References

• Great Lakes Ships: Historical details of vessels like the Jay Gould.

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes Website: Comprehensive shipwreck records.

• David Swayze Shipwreck File: Documentation of incidents and wreck locations.

• Niagara Divers Association: Insights into diving the Jay Gould and other Lake Erie wrecks.

• Diver Magazine: Coverage of Great Lakes wreck diving.

Conclusion

The Jay Gould exemplifies the ingenuity and resilience of 19th-century maritime engineering and the challenges faced by vessels on the Great Lakes. Its long service life, numerous modifications, and eventual demise in 1918 provide a window into the dynamic world of Great Lakes shipping. Today, the wreck near Point Pelee serves as a poignant reminder of the vessel’s storied history and the legacy of those who worked the Great Lakes.