Other Names #
- ACORN
History #
The D.L. COUCH was a schooner built in 1855 in Oswego, New York. It had an official number of 6503. The vessel, constructed with a wooden hull and a single deck, was built by Walter Scott and master carpenter A. Miller. Interestingly, the D.L. COUCH was built on the bottom of another vessel named ACORN.
The original owner of the D.L. COUCH was John E. Mulford from Oswego, New York. It had two masts and had a tonnage of 119 according to the old measurement style.
Throughout its history, the ownership of the D.L. COUCH changed hands multiple times. In 1860, it was owned by Gross, Pulver & Co. in Oswego. By 1866, it was owned by J.C. Maddock in Ganonoque, Ontario, and later in 1868, it was owned by New Baltimore, Michigan.
On July 17, 1872, the D.L. COUCH met its final fate when it foundered in a storm. The schooner sank 2 miles off shore, approximately 10 miles from Long Point in Lake Erie. It had been carrying a cargo of coal at the time. The final depth at which it settled was 120 feet. Two crew members were lost in the incident, but the rest of the crew was rescued by the schooner CITIZEN.
Prior to its sinking, the D.L. COUCH had become a Canadian vessel in 1871 under the ownership of James Riley from Detroit. The schooner had a measurement of 85.54 tons and was registered in New Baltimore, Michigan.
The D.L. COUCH was known for its beauty and craftsmanship, being described as a beautiful vessel of 170 tons measurement when it was built in 1855. It made its first trip to Toronto with a cargo of plaster and merchandise, owned by John E. Mulford.
The vessel had a connection to another schooner named ACORN. In 1860, it was noted that the D.L. COUCH was built on the bottom of the ACORN, which had been wrecked near Oswego. The ACORN itself was described as an old vessel, not particularly seaworthy, and was deemed a total wreck.
The D.L. COUCH had a notable history, changing ownership and meeting its tragic end in Lake Erie in 1872.
External Links #
- Great Lakes Ships as D.L. COUCH as ACORN
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- David Swayze Shipwreck File – ACORN as D.L COUCH
- History of the Great Lakes
- Kenneth R Pott – Masters Thesis
