IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Vessel Name: SS Wexford (formerly ELISE)
• Vessel Type: Steel-Hulled Package Freighter
• Year Built: 1883
• Builder: William Doxford & Sons, Sunderland, England
• Dimensions: Length: 250 feet (76.2 meters) Beam: 40 feet (12.2 meters) Draft: 17 feet (5.2 meters)
• Gross Tonnage: 2,104 tons Net Tonnage: 1,340 tons
• Final Resting Place: Grand Bend, Lake Huron
• Coordinates: N 43° 24.06’, W 081° 53.30’
• Depth of Wreck: 75 feet (25 meters)

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION

The SS Wexford was a steel-hulled package freighter built in 1883, designed for the transportation of goods across the Great Lakes. Originally named ELISE, it was a sturdy example of 19th-century shipbuilding, featuring a single Deck and three cargo holds. Its cargo often included steel rails and bulk goods, such as wheat.

HISTORY

Built by William Doxford & Sons in Sunderland, England, the vessel began service as the ELISE in 1883. After several ownership changes, it was renamed SS Wexford in 1903 and integrated into the fleet of the Western Steamship Company.

On November 6, 1913, the Wexford departed Fort William, Ontario, loaded with steel rails and 96,000 bushels of wheat, bound for Goderich, Ontario. Caught in the infamous Great Storm of 1913, the vessel was tragically lost, sinking with all hands aboard.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The SS Wexford succumbed to the violent conditions of the storm, with its last communication from Captain Cameron on November 9, 1913, reporting fog and delays. The ship was discovered on August 25, 2000, resting upright in 75 feet of water off Grand Bend, Lake Huron. Its excellent condition provides a haunting yet invaluable glimpse into the ship’s history and its demise during one of the most devastating storms in Great Lakes history.

NOTICES TO MARINERS (NOTMARs) & ADVISORIES

• Current Notices: No active NOTMARs associated with the SS Wexford wreck site.
• Divers should consult local authorities and maritime organizations for updated advisories before visiting.

LOCATED BY & DATE

• Discovery Date: August 25, 2000
• Discovered By: Local divers exploring the area off Grand Bend, Lake Huron.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Research Foundation
• NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory
• National Museum of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Shipwrecks Database
• Wikipedia – Wexford Fort William Grand Bend
• Bowling Green State University – Personal Records – Cameron
• Clinton News Record

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KEYWORDS

SS Wexford, ELISE, Great Storm of 1913, Lake Huron, Steel-Hulled Freighter, Shipwreck, Maritime History, Great Lakes.

CONCLUSION

The SS Wexford embodies the rich yet tragic Maritime History of the Great Lakes. Its loss during the Great Storm of 1913 is a sobering reminder of the hazards faced by mariners of the era. The discovery of the wreck in 2000 brought resolution to one of the storm’s mysteries and stands as a testament to the bravery of its crew. Today, the Wexford remains an important site of historical significance and a focal point for those seeking to honor and learn from the past.

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