Identification & Site Information

• Name: Edwin Harmon
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 8190
• Date Built & Launched: 1867
• Builder: Shayler, Ashtabula, Ohio
• Measurements: 126 ft x 30 ft x 11 ft (38.4 m x 9.1 m x 3.4 m)
• Tonnage: 285 gross tons, 268 net tons
• Date Lost: November 9, 1887
• Place of Loss: Point Abino, near Buffalo, Lake Erie
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo: Lumber

Vessel Type

The Edwin Harmon was a wooden schooner-barge, a type of vessel that was originally a Schooner but later converted for towing behind steam-powered vessels, commonly used in the Great Lakes lumber trade.

Description

Built in 1867 in Ashtabula, Ohio, the Edwin Harmon was a three-masted schooner designed for hauling bulk cargo, primarily lumber. By the late 19th century, it had been converted into a Schooner-Barge, meaning it was towed rather than sailed under its own power. This method allowed steam tugs to move multiple barges in a single trip, increasing efficiency.

History

Owned by Gilchrist and homeported in Alpena, Michigan, the Edwin Harmon was frequently used in the lumber trade, transporting timber from Michigan forests to markets in cities like Buffalo and Cleveland. By the 1880s, Great Lakes shipping was highly dependent on Schooner-barges like the Edwin Harmon, which were towed in long lines behind steamers.

On November 9, 1887, the Edwin Harmon was under tow by the Steamer Oswegatchie, along with another Schooner-Barge, the Charles Hinckley. The vessels were caught in a severe storm while navigating Lake Erie near Buffalo. As the winds and waves intensified, the Towline between Oswegatchie and Edwin Harmon broke, leaving the Schooner-Barge adrift. Unable to control its course, the vessel was driven ashore at Point Abino, where it was pounded by waves and eventually broken apart.

Despite the destruction of the vessel, no lives were lost, as the crew likely managed to abandon ship before it was completely destroyed.

Final Disposition

The Edwin Harmon was declared a Total Loss after breaking apart on the rocky shoreline of Point Abino. Given the nature of wooden vessels wrecked in shallow waters, much of its remains were likely salvaged or eventually scattered by the lake.

Located By & Date Found

There is no confirmed modern discovery of the wreck.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No known navigational hazards associated with the wreck site today, but Point Abino remains an area with historical shipwrecks and challenging navigation conditions.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Maritime Database – Bowling Green State University
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The loss of the Edwin Harmon illustrates the risks associated with the Schooner-Barge system, which, while efficient, left the towed vessels vulnerable in bad weather. Breaking away from the Oswegatchie in a storm left the Edwin Harmon helpless, leading to its eventual wrecking at Point Abino. The incident serves as an example of the dangers faced by lumber schooners in the late 19th century on Lake Erie.

Suggested Keywords & Categories

• Keywords: Edwin Harmon shipwreck, Point Abino shipwrecks, Schooner-Barge wrecks, Great Lakes lumber trade, Lake Erie shipwrecks, Oswegatchie tow loss
• Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Erie History, 19th-Century Maritime Disasters, Lumber Schooners
• Glossary Terms: Schooner-Barge, Tow Steamer, Ship Stranding, Lumber Trade, Lake Erie Storms