TOLEDO

The TOLEDO, a dredge barge, was built in 1907 by J. Laird & Sons in Ashtabula, Ohio. It had the dimensions of 159 feet in length, 37 feet in beam, and 11 feet in depth, weighing 960 tons. The barge operated primarily on Lake Erie.

Tragically, on November 19, 1924, the TOLEDO encountered a severe storm that led to its demise. It foundered while being towed by the tug BURLEY, approximately one mile off Rattlesnake Island. The barge was en route from South Bass Island to Toledo but attempted to turn back to Put-in-Bay due to the deteriorating weather conditions.

Although the storm claimed the vessel, thankfully, there was no loss of life among the seven crew members on board. The TOLEDO was owned by the LeBeau Wrecking Company, located in Toledo, and captained by Clarence LeBeau.

The wreck of the TOLEDO now rests in three separate pieces in approximately 35 feet of water, about 2.8 miles north of the Green Island light. Its final resting place serves as a poignant reminder of the perils faced by ships navigating the unpredictable waters of Lake Erie.