- Schooner Barge
The Samuel P. Ely, a schooner barge, was built in 1869 at the J.P. Clark Shipyards near Detroit. It was initially named Florence before being renamed prior to enrollment. The vessel had a single deck and three masts, and it measured 200 feet in length, 31 feet in beam, and 13 feet in depth. With a gross tonnage of 627.24 and a net tonnage of 595.85, it had a capacity of 1,200 tons. The original owners were N.C. & H.J. Winslow from Cleveland, Ohio.
Throughout its history, the Samuel P. Ely encountered various incidents and changes in ownership. It operated in the ore trade between Cleveland and Escanaba/Marquette, Michigan. The vessel experienced a collision on the St. Clair Flats in October 1869 and lost its maingaff on Lake Michigan in October 1871. It ran aground in Neebish, St. Mary’s River, in August 1873 but was successfully released. The ownership changed over the years, with Russell of Cleveland taking ownership in 1879, Lucy Russell of Cleveland in 1882, and M.A. Bradley & Co. of Cleveland in 1884.
In its later years, the Samuel P. Ely suffered several accidents and underwent repairs. It lost its main and mizzen masts in a gale on Lake Erie in the spring of 1885 but was repaired and possibly refitted as a towbarge. The vessel was sunk in shallow water in Lake Erie in November 1887 but was recovered and repaired. It went through subsequent repairs and maintenance, including repairs to timber, keelson, ceiling, stanchions, planksheer, rail, and rudder.
On October 29, 1896, the Samuel P. Ely met its final fate during a violent gale at Two Harbors, Minnesota. The ship broke free from a tug and was swept across the harbor, crashing into the stone breakwater. The wreck of the Ely became a notable event in the local community, witnessed by many residents due to its visible location and the prolonged nature of the incident. Numerous stories have been passed down through generations, highlighting the involvement of local citizens as heroes. While parts of the hull suffered damage, a significant portion of the vessel’s hull remains intact, preserving the key characteristics of 200-foot schooners from that era. The ship’s documents were surrendered in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 19, 1897.
