Site Description
- Schooner
- 80ffw 28m
- 148ft Length
- Lake Erie
The Edward Kean, also known as the Little Wissahickon, was a schooner-barge that was built in Marine City, Michigan, in 1869. Constructed with wood, the vessel had one deck and two masts. It was originally owned by P.E. Kean of Marine City. The schooner-barge had a length of 146.4 feet, a beam of 29.4 feet, and a depth of 12 feet. It had a gross tonnage of 376.53 and a net tonnage of 357.7.
Throughout its history, the Edward Kean experienced various changes and incidents. In June 1879, its spars were cut down at Union Dry Dock. On May 21, 1882, it was renamed the Little Wissahickon. The vessel was frequently towed by different steamers, such as the Oakland, George L. Colwell, Salina, and James P. Donaldson.
The Little Wissahickon had several notable incidents during its service. On May 22, 1883, it ran aground below Stoney Point on Lake St. Clair. In April 1891, it went aground in the Saginaw River on Lake Huron. On October 30, 1894, it encountered another grounding, this time on Bird Island Reef in the Niagara River, but it was successfully released.
The final and tragic chapter of the Edward Kean’s history occurred on July 10, 1896. While under tow by the steamer James P. Donaldson, along with the consorts T.G. Lester, A.W. Wright, and James L. Ketchum, the schooner-barge sprang a leak and foundered in Lake Erie. The exact location of the sinking was 22 miles south of Rondeau Point, Ontario, and 35 miles northeast of Point Pelee. The vessel went down to a final depth of 80 feet. Its cargo at the time of the sinking was coal. Sadly, three crew members lost their lives in the incident.
The wreck of the Edward Kean, resting in Lake Erie, remains a visible reminder of its tragic fate. The wreck sits upright, with the ship’s wheel located at the stern, and the windlass and anchors positioned at the bow. The ship’s bell, initially removed by Ohio divers and displayed in the United States, has been returned and is now securely bolted to a concrete block at the wreck site, serving as a memorial to the vessel and its crew.
