History #
The Birmingham was a schooner that was built in 1843 in Vermillion, Ohio. It had no official number but had a tonnage of 138. This wooden vessel was primarily used for transporting cargo on Lake Erie.
On December 4, 1854, the Birmingham was bound from Erie, Pennsylvania, to Buffalo, New York, carrying a cargo of coal. Unfortunately, during a snowstorm, the schooner ran aground on Horseshoe Reef, located in front of Buffalo Harbor on Lake Erie. Sources provide conflicting information regarding the fate of the Birmingham. Some accounts suggest that the vessel was recovered, while others indicate that it was destroyed.
The loss of the Birmingham was estimated to be around $4,000, approximately equal to the value of the ship itself. Thankfully, there were no reported casualties resulting from the incident.
It is worth noting that the Birmingham had encountered difficulties in the past. On April 8, 1851, it went ashore during a storm at Port Burwell on Lake Erie. Additionally, in the same year, the Morning Express of Buffalo reported that the Birmingham, along with other schooners such as the Atalanta, Brewster, and Wabash, had gone ashore at Port Burwell, resulting in the total loss of the Atalanta.
The Birmingham’s career spanned from its construction in 1843 to its loss in 1854. During this time, it operated under different enrollments, including Sandusky, Ohio, from 1847 to 1849, and Buffalo, New York, from 1850 to 1854.
The schooner Birmingham serves as a reminder of the risks and challenges faced by vessels navigating the Great Lakes, particularly during storms and inclement weather conditions. Its story adds to the rich maritime history of the region and the hardships experienced by sailors and ship owners in the 19th century.
