JOHN B. LYON U76199

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IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

Wreck Name: JAMES H. REED
Type: Steel Bulk Freight Propeller
Date of Incident: April 27, 1944
Location: Approximately 20 miles north of Conneaut, Ohio, Lake Erie (off Long Point)
Coordinates: Not specified; wreck located north of Conneaut, Ohio
Depth: 50 feet (17 meters)
Condition: The wreckage was later dynamited to level it; scattered remains on the lakebed

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #

The JAMES H. REED was a steel bulk freight propeller vessel, built in 1903 by Detroit Shipbuilding in Wyandotte, Michigan (hull #154). The ship measured 448 feet in length, 52.2 feet in width, and 29 feet in depth, with a gross tonnage of 5598 tons and a net tonnage of 4125 tons. The vessel was designed to carry heavy bulk cargoes, such as iron ore, across the Great Lakes. The JAMES H. REED was a substantial and robust vessel, representative of the large freighters that plied the Great Lakes during the early 20th century.

HISTORY #

Launched on May 28, 1903, the JAMES H. REED served as a significant cargo vessel on the Great Lakes for over four decades. On April 27, 1944, while transporting a load of iron ore from Superior, Wisconsin, to Erie, Pennsylvania, the JAMES H. REED met its tragic end. The vessel was struck broadside, dead amidships, by the 550-foot Canadian steel freighter ASHCROFT. The collision occurred approximately 20 miles north of Conneaut, Ohio, off Long Point in Lake Erie.

The impact of the collision caused the JAMES H. REED to sink rapidly, resulting in the tragic loss of 12 crew members. Despite the severity of the incident, details about the precise circumstances leading to the collision remain limited. The vessel was owned by Interlake Steamship, based in Cleveland, Ohio, and its home port was Duluth.

FINAL DISPOSITION #

Following the collision and rapid sinking of the JAMES H. REED, the wreckage was dynamited to level it, reducing its potential as a hazard to navigation. The remains of the vessel are scattered across the lakebed at a depth of 50 feet, north of Conneaut, Ohio. The wreck’s position has made it a known site, though its accessibility and visibility may be impacted by the dynamiting and the subsequent state of the debris.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #

No current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are related to this wreck site, but it was likely marked and considered in historical navigation advisories due to the wreck’s original condition before dynamiting.

LOCATED BY & DATE #

The wreck was located shortly after the sinking in 1944. The decision to dynamite the wreck suggests it was identified as a significant navigational hazard at the time.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #

The wreckage of the JAMES H. REED is scattered and partially destroyed, lying at a depth of 50 feet in Lake Erie. The dynamiting has reduced much of the structure, leaving debris rather than an intact wreck. The site may still hold interest for divers, though the conditions of the wreckage likely make it less visually compelling than more intact shipwrecks.

RESOURCES & LINKS #

Primary Sources: Historical records and maritime incident reports.
Further Reading: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Google Books for additional historical records.

CONCLUSION #

The sinking of the JAMES H. REED on April 27, 1944, was a significant maritime disaster on Lake Erie, resulting in the loss of 12 lives. The collision with the ASHCROFT during World War II highlights the perils faced by Great Lakes freighters, even during periods of intense maritime activity. The destruction of the wreck by dynamiting further emphasizes the need to maintain clear navigational channels in busy lake regions. Today, the scattered remains of the JAMES H. REED serve as a somber reminder of the dangers that have long characterized Great Lakes shipping.