TOLEDO – Shipwreck Information

• Official No.: 24234
• Other Names: None
• Type at Loss: 2-mast wooden Schooner
• Built: 1843, by A. Miller, Oswego, New York
• Measurements: Length: 93 ft (28.35 m) Beam: 20 ft (6.10 m) Depth: 8 ft (2.44 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 139 gt (139)
• Date of Loss: August 5, 1875
• Place of Loss: Perry’s Pier, 13 miles north of Manistee, Michigan
• Lake: Michigan
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Cargo: Wood
• Vessel Type 2-mast wooden Schooner

Description

The Toledo was a wooden Schooner built in 1843 by A. Miller at Oswego, New York. It was a relatively small Schooner for its time, measuring 93 feet in length, 20 feet in beam, and with a depth of 8 feet. The vessel had a Gross Tonnage of 139 tons, and like many schooners of its era, it was used primarily for carrying cargo, particularly wood. On August 5, 1875, while the Toledo was loading wood at Perry’s Pier, located approximately 13 miles north of Manistee, Michigan, it was caught by a violent storm. The storm’s force drove the vessel ashore, where it broke in two. The Toledo was completely wrecked in the process. Despite the severity of the storm and the damage sustained, no loss of life was reported in the incident. However, the vessel’s fate was sealed; by August 17, it was reported that the wreck was rapidly going to pieces, indicating that the ship had been utterly destroyed by the storm and the subsequent deterioration.

Final Dispositions

The Toledo was driven ashore during a storm on August 5, 1875, while loading wood at Perry’s Pier, north of Manistee. The Schooner was broken in two by the storm, and by August 17, the wreck was reported to be breaking apart. The Toledowas effectively lost, with no recovery or salvage efforts mentioned in the records. The vessel’s wreckage was left to deteriorate in the aftermath of the storm.

Located By & Date Found

There is no record of the exact location where the remains of the Toledo were found or whether any modern search or exploration has been conducted at the site. Given the reported rapid deterioration of the wreck, it is likely that the remains have been long since scattered or completely destroyed.

Notable Marks & Advisories

There are no specific navigational marks or advisories linked to the wreck of the Toledo, as the vessel was destroyed relatively quickly after being driven ashore by the storm.

Resources & Links

• David Swayze Shipwreck File  IS, MV, HGL, OSDO, NSP
• Great Lakes Shipwrecks and Survivals
• The Maritime History of the Great Lakes

Conclusion

The Toledo was a small, wooden Schooner that met its end on August 5, 1875, when it was caught in a storm while loading wood at Perry’s Pier, near Manistee, Michigan. The vessel was driven ashore and broken in two, rapidly deteriorating over the course of the following weeks. The storm claimed the Schooner, but fortunately, there were no fatalities reported. The Toledo’s wreck serves as a reminder of the unpredictable dangers faced by mariners on Lake Michigan in the 19th century.