ATALANTA (1832, Schooner)
Identification & Site Information:
•Vessel Name: ATALANTA
•Year of Build: 1832
Construction and Ownership
•Built at: Fairport, Ohio
•Vessel Type: Schooner
•Hull Materials: Wood
•Number of Decks: 1
•Builder Name: H. Tiebout
Power and Masts
•Number of Masts: 2
Hull Dimensions
•Tonnage (Old Style): 109 55/95 tons
Vessel Type
The Atalanta was a wooden, two-masted schooner built in 1832 at Fairport, Ohio. Schooners like the Atalanta were widely used for transporting goods across the Great Lakes, including timber, grain, and other bulk cargo. With a single deck and moderate tonnage, the Atalanta was typical of the cargo schooners of the early 19th century, suited for coastal and lake-wide trade.
History
The Atalanta served on the Great Lakes for nearly two decades, beginning its career in 1832 with enrollment in Cleveland, Ohio. In April 1844, the vessel underwent a significant rebuild in Fairport, Ohio, which increased its tonnage to 124 39/95 tons. By 1847, the schooner was owned by D.H. Green and continued its service after another rebuild that year.
In June 1848, the Atalanta capsized near Kelly’s Island on Lake Erie while carrying no cargo, though it was not lost at this time and was recovered for further use. It was a common hazard for schooners to face capsizing or damage due to the unpredictable weather on the lakes.
Final Disposition
On April 8, 1851, the Atalanta was wrecked during a storm and driven ashore near Point Burwell, Ontario, on Lake Ontario. The storm that claimed the Atalanta also caused the wreckage of several other schooners in the same location, demonstrating the severity of the weather. The ship was declared a total loss.
Located By & Date
There is no record of the exact location or discovery of the remains of the Atalanta. Given the time period and the extent of the storm damage, the vessel likely broke apart or was left to deteriorate near the shoreline.
Notmars & Advisories
No modern-day navigation advisories are associated with the wreck of the Atalanta, as it was lost in shallow waters near the shore. The area around Point Burwell has seen numerous shipwrecks, though none directly related to the Atalanta have been noted as hazards.
Resources & Links
For additional research, you may refer to:
•Maritime History of the Great Lakes
The story of the Atalanta is a reminder of the harsh conditions that schooners and their crews faced on the Great Lakes, with unpredictable weather often leading to their demise.
