Identification & Site Information

• Name: Utica
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: None
• Date Built & Launched: 1846
• Builder: J. Averill, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Specifications: 131 ft x 26 ft x 11 ft (39.9 m x 7.9 m x 3.4 m), 334 tons
• Vessel Type: Wooden three-masted Bark
• Date Lost: November 17, 1854
• Place of Loss: Erie Basin, Buffalo Harbor, Lake Erie
• Cause of Loss: Struck a bar, driven aground in storm
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo: Barrelled beef
• Owner: J. Leavenworth, Chicago
• Master at Loss: Captain Borden

Vessel Type

The Utica was a wooden three-masted Bark, a common rig for Great Lakes cargo vessels in the mid-19th century. Barks were square-rigged on the foremast and mainmast but fore-and-aft rigged on the mizzen, making them efficient for long-haul shipping. They were widely used for transporting bulk goods such as grain, lumber, and meat products across the Great Lakes.

Description & History

Built in 1846 in Milwaukee by shipbuilder J. Averill, the Utica was part of the expanding Great Lakes commercial fleet that transported goods between Midwestern ports and the growing cities along the lakes. With Chicago as its home port, the vessel was frequently involved in the shipping of agricultural products, such as grain and meat, to eastern markets.

On November 17, 1854, the Utica was attempting to enter Buffalo Harbor, loaded with a cargo of barrelled beef. Although the wind was relatively light, heavy seas made navigation difficult. The vessel struck a sandbar at the entrance to the Erie Basin and was driven into the shallows. The impact caused the Hull to Bilge (split open), and the ship quickly broke in two.

By November 25, pounding waves had completely destroyed the remains of the vessel. Despite the catastrophic loss of the ship, there were no casualties reported among the crew.

Final Disposition

The Utica was declared a Total Loss after breaking apart in Buffalo Harbor. No known salvage efforts were recorded, and the remains were likely swept away or buried under shifting sand and silt.

Located By & Date Found

No confirmed discovery of wreckage has been reported. Given the high-energy environment of Buffalo Harbor, any remaining debris is likely scattered or deeply buried.

NOTMARs & Advisories

The Erie Basin of Buffalo Harbor has been significantly modified over time, with dredging and construction potentially covering any remaining wreckage.  No modern navigational hazards related to this wreck exist.

Resources & Links

•  Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• NOAA Great Lakes Shipwrecks

Conclusion

The Utica was a typical example of the mid-19th-century Great Lakes cargo barks, playing a key role in the movement of agricultural goods. Its loss at Buffalo Harbor in 1854 highlights the challenges of navigating the Great Lakes, particularly in harbors where shifting sandbars and storms frequently caused wrecks. Although the ship was lost, it remains a part of the rich maritime history of Lake Erie.

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: Great Lakes shipwrecks, Bark-rigged vessels, Buffalo Harbor, Lake Erie storms, 19th-century shipping

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Erie, 19th-century shipwrecks, wooden barks, storm-related losses

Glossary Terms: Bark, Bilged, Erie Basin, Buffalo Harbor