The schooner SACRAMENTO had a long and eventful history. Built in 1850 at Madison Rock, OH, it was a two-masted wooden vessel with a tonnage of 115.98 (old style). Over the years, the schooner changed hands multiple times and encountered various incidents on the Great Lakes.
In its early years, the SACRAMENTO faced mishaps, including ashore incidents in Fairport, Ohio, and a capsizing off Buffalo, New York, both on Lake Erie. The vessel underwent repairs after being disabled in Erie, Pennsylvania, and running aground near the west piers of Cleveland, Lake Erie.
Under different owners, the SACRAMENTO continued its voyages on the Great Lakes. In one unfortunate event, it collided with the schooner YORKTOWN on Lake Michigan and sank, though it was later raised.
In November 1860, tragedy struck when the schooner went ashore during a storm near Port Colborne, Ontario, on Lake Erie, resulting in the loss of lives. Despite undergoing large repairs and changing ownership multiple times, the vessel’s fate was sealed on October 2, 1867, when it struck Gull Island Reef, near Kelley’s Island, Ohio, on Lake Erie. The SACRAMENTO, carrying a cargo of coke from Cleveland, Ohio, to Detroit, Michigan, was wrecked in approximately 75 feet of water. Tragically, three crew members lost their lives in the incident.
The history of the SACRAMENTO showcases the challenges and dangers faced by vessels navigating the Great Lakes during the 19th century. From mishaps and accidents to repairs and ownership changes, the ship’s journey was eventful, but its final wrecking on Gull Island Reef marked the end of its maritime service.
