Shipwreck Report: Sidewheel Steamer Wave (1850–1851)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: Wave
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: None (Pre-dates official U.S. vessel registration system)
• Vessel Type: Wooden Sidewheel Steamer
• Built: 1850, by Charles Jennison, Algonac, Michigan
• Home Port: Unknown, but likely Michigan-based
• Primary Use: Freight transport (merchandise and cargo carrier)
• Specifications Length: 137 feet (41.8 meters) Beam: 22 feet (6.7 meters) Depth: 8 feet (2.4 meters)
• Tonnage: 208 tons
• Propulsion: Sidewheel steam engine

Operational History

The Wave was a medium-sized wooden Sidewheel Steamer, launched in 1850 to serve the Great Lakes trade routes. She primarily transported merchandise and general cargo between ports on Lake Erie and Lake Huron.

Typical Trade Route

Operated between Michigan, Ontario, and Ohio ports. Likely connected Detroit, Buffalo, Cleveland, and Canadian lakefront towns. Provided regular transport of cargo and possibly passengers along the Great Lakes’ expanding Steamship network.

Final Voyage and Loss

• Date of Loss: November 7, 1851
• Location: Near the mouth of Grand River, Ontario (Lake Erie)
• Cause: Mechanical failure (broken shaft), leading to stranding and wrecking in a storm
• Cargo at Loss: General merchandise
• Loss of Life: None

Incident Details

• While transporting merchandise, the Wave suffered a mechanical failure, breaking her shaft while navigating Lake Erie.
• This left the Steamer stranded and vulnerable to the worsening weather conditions.
• A storm drove her ashore near Grand River, Ontario, where she became wrecked beyond salvage.
• The crew survived, and no loss of life was reported.
• Her final enrollment was annotated as “wrecked in 1851 on Lake Erie.”

Legacy and Significance

Early Great Lakes Steamboat Development Built in 1850, the Wave was part of the early transition from sail to steam on the Great Lakes. Sidewheel steamers like the Wave were essential in expanding trade networks before railroads took dominance.

Mechanical Failure and Early Steamship Risks The breakage of her shaft highlights the technical challenges faced by early steam-powered vessels. Mechanical failures often left ships adrift, unable to navigate or escape approaching storms.

Shipwrecks Along Ontario’s Lake Erie Coast The Wave’s wreck site near Grand River, Ontario, is part of a historically hazardous region. Many 19th-century steamers and schooners met similar fates due to storms, shallow waters, and mechanical failures.

Wreck Site and Potential Remains

• Location: Near the mouth of Grand River, Ontario, Lake Erie
• Current Condition:  Since the Wave was a wooden vessel, her remains have likely deteriorated significantly. Some metal components (boiler, engine, shaft, and sidewheel fittings) may still be on the lakebed.
• Potential for Discovery: Sonar or magnetometer surveys could locate wreckage fragments in the shallow waters near Grand River.
• No known modern dive or salvage efforts have documented her remains.

Further Research and Resources

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca Provides historical records on early Great Lakes steamers and shipwrecks.
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society Works on locating and preserving historic wreck sites in the Great Lakes region.
• Ontario Marine Heritage Committee Focuses on shipwreck research and preservation along the Canadian side of Lake Erie.
• Canadian Shipwreck Database May contain additional information on the wreck of the Wave and other lost vessels near Grand River.

Conclusion

The Wave (1850–1851) was a wooden Sidewheel Steamer built to serve Lake Erie’s expanding trade routes. She was lost after breaking her shaft and being driven ashore by a storm near Grand River, Ontario. While no lives were lost, the wreck highlights the challenges faced by early steam-powered vessels, particularly mechanical failures and storm risks. Though no remains have been documented, future exploration could reveal metal fittings or engine partsfrom this early Great Lakes Steamer.