TOLEDO – Shipwreck Information

• Official No.: None
• Other Names: None
• Type at Loss: 2-mast Schooner, wooden Hull
• Built: 1836, by John Carrick, Buffalo, New York
• Measurements: Length: 98 ft (29.87 m) Beam: 24 ft (7.32 m) Depth: 10 ft (3.05 m)
• Tonnage: 215 tonnage (Old Style)
• Date of Loss: November 5, 1838
• Place of Loss: 0.5 mile east of the mouth of the Grand River, near Fairport, Ohio
• Lake: Erie
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: None reported
• Cargo: Dry goods valued at $100,000 to $150,000 (part of the cargo was saved)
• Owner at Time of Loss: Charles Howland of Buffalo, New York
• Captain at Time of Loss: Captain Scoville
• Possible Later Fate: The ship may have been resurrected in 1844, Rebuilt as a Brig, and possibly wrecked at Ahnapee, Wisconsin, in 1848.
• Vessel Type: 2-mast wooden Schooner

Description

The Toledo was a two-masted Schooner constructed in 1836 by shipbuilder John Carrick in Buffalo, New York. Measuring 98 feet in length, 24 feet in beam, and with a depth of 10 feet, it had a tonnage of 215. As a Schooner, it was primarily designed for cargo transport across the Great Lakes, making it well-suited for navigating the often unpredictable waters of Lake Erie.

On November 5, 1838, the Toledo encountered a fierce storm while upbound on Lake Erie, near the mouth of the Grand River, close to Fairport, Ohio. The storm, a strong gale, drove the vessel ashore, where it broke in two. The ship’s cargo, which consisted of dry goods valued between $100,000 and $150,000, was largely lost, though some of it was recovered. Despite the damage, no lives were lost in the disaster.

The Toledo was owned by Charles Howland of Buffalo, New York, and captained by Captain Scoville at the time of its wrecking. After the loss, there are indications that the vessel may have been resurrected in 1844, Rebuilt into a Brig, and possibly later wrecked again at Ahnapee, Wisconsin, in 1848. This second wrecking, however, remains speculative.

Final Dispositions

The Toledo was broken in two after being driven ashore by a violent gale on November 5, 1838, near Fairport, Ohio, on the shores of Lake Erie. The ship’s cargo, a significant amount of dry goods, was partially salvaged. There is also evidence suggesting the ship may have been Rebuilt as a Brig in 1844, though its later fate is unclear, with possible reports of a wreck in 1848 at Ahnapee, Wisconsin.

Located By & Date Found

There is no mention of the wreck site being located or identified in modern times. The details of the wrecking near the Grand River mouth are limited, and no further exploration or recovery of the vessel’s remains seems to have occurred.

Notable Marks & Advisories

There are no specific navigational marks or advisories associated with the wreck of the Toledo, and no further details are provided regarding obstructions or hazards related to this site.

Resources & Links

• • David Swayze Shipwreck File:HGL, IS(3-60), NSP, WL
• • Great Lakes Shipwrecks and Survivals
• • The Maritime History of the Great Lakes

Conclusion

The Toledo was a wooden Schooner that met its end on Lake Erie in 1838 after being caught in a storm. Though no lives were lost, the ship and much of its cargo were destroyed. The Toledo’s wreck provides a snapshot of the risks faced by 19th-century mariners navigating the often-turbulent waters of the Great Lakes. The vessel’s brief life included a possible resurrection and a speculative second wrecking, adding to the mysteries surrounding this ill-fated ship.