• Vessel Name: Almira • Official Number: 29358 • Type: Wooden scow Schooner • Tonnage: • Original: 80.35 tons (old measurement) • Later Adjusted: 76 tons and 78.69 tons • Dimensions: • Length: 84.9 feet (25.9 meters) • Beam: 20 feet (6.1 meters) • Depth: 5 feet (1.5 meters) • Construction: Wooden Hull, single Deck, two masts • Year Built: 1849 • Builder: J. Curtis, Black River, Ohio, USA • Owners: Multiple, including John Mullen (Racine, Wisconsin), M. O’Connor (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), and other entities in Milwaukee • Home Ports: Cleveland, Ohio; Sandusky, Ohio; Milwaukee, Wisconsin • Date of Wreck: Not specified

Vessel Type Description

The Almira was a wooden scow Schooner, designed with a flat-bothttps://shotlinediving.com/wp-content/uploads/52895851813_b64678c0f7_c.jpged Hull suitable for shallow waters, making it ideal for transporting bulk cargo on the Great Lakes. Scow schooners like the Almira were common in the mid-19th century and essential for handling diverse freight, including raw materials and agricultural products. The vessel’s robust and straightforward design allowed it to operate reliably in challenging lake conditions.

History

Built in 1849 by J. Curtis of Black River, Ohio, the Almira served the Great Lakes region during a critical period of economic expansion. Initially enrolled in Cleveland, Ohio, the vessel transported goods across the Great Lakes.

Key Events in Service Life:

• September 6, 1849: Early in its career, the Almira ran aground in Ashtabula, Ohio. Despite this mishap, the vessel continued to operate, demonstrating the resilience of Schooner barges of this era.

• 1854-1855: Enrolled in Sandusky, Ohio, the vessel was recorded at 80.35 tons.

• 1856-1865: The Almira shifted its base to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, marking a transition to the western Great Lakes. By 1860, John Mullen of Racine, Wisconsin, held ownership, with the vessel’s tonnage adjusted to 76 tons.

• 1866: Ownership transferred to M. O’Connor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. By 1868, the vessel’s tonnage was adjusted again, recorded at 78.69 tons under Milwaukee-based ownership.

Throughout its service, the Almira remained a valuable asset, illustrating the demand for cargo vessels capable of connecting communities and transporting essential goods across the Great Lakes. This vessel typified the hardy schooners of the period, which formed the backbone of Great Lakes trade.

Final Disposition

The precise details of Almira’s end are unknown, as there is no specific documentation of its wrecking or decommissioning. Its long service and various ownership transfers suggest that it remained operational and valuable until its final years, likely continuing in regional trade until either an incident or natural deterioration ended its career.

NOTMARs & Advisories

There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) associated with the Almira. Its history is documented primarily through enrollment records, ownership changes, and minor incidents rather than by specific contemporary warnings or hazards.

Located By & Date

The final location of the Almira has not been documented or confirmed by modern underwater surveys. The vessel’s resting place, if it was wrecked, remains unknown.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Due to the lack of records concerning the vessel’s final disposition and its likely wooden construction, any remains of the Almira would have significantly deteriorated over time. If sunk, the remnants of the vessel would likely be inaccessible, as many wooden schooners from this era are often found in poor condition due to the effects of lake currents, sediment, and biological decay.

Resources & Links

For additional research on the Almira and related Great Lakes vessels, refer to the following resources:

• Great Lakes Ships Website – C. Patrick Labadie Collection: Comprehensive resource for ship details, including Great Lakes schooners.

• Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory

• C. E. Feltner Enrollments Database: Information on vessel enrollments and ownership records.

• Early American Steamers by Erik Heyl: Background on steamers and scows of the Great Lakes era.

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes Website: Archival records on vessel incidents and ownership histories.

• David Swayze Shipwreck File

• Historical Newspaper Sources:

• Rochester Union & Advertiser, August 9, 1866

• Daily Inter-Ocean (Chicago, IL), November 9, 1865

• Buffalo Morning Express, January 11, 1856

Conclusion

The Almira exemplifies the practical and robust design of mid-19th-century scow schooners that were vital to the economic connectivity of the Great Lakes. Its enduring service across multiple ports, ownerships, and regions highlights the critical role of such vessels in supporting regional industry and trade, which helped shape the development of communities around the Great Lakes.

Keywords: Almira Schooner, Great Lakes scow, Lake Erie Schooner, 19th-century maritime history, wooden Schooner wreck