ELK

The wreck in question is located between the Clayton main dock and Washington Island, submerged in shallow water approximately 12 feet deep. The specific details about the year it was built, where it was built, and the builder’s name are unknown. However, it is identified as a schooner, a sailing vessel, with a wooden hull.

The schooner’s dimensions are recorded as 99 feet in length and 30 feet in beam. The depth of its hold and tonnage are not specified in the available information. The exact cause of its sinking and the date of its loss are also unknown, but it is believed to have occurred before 1874.

The remains of the wreck indicate that it was once a sailing grain carrier. However, over time, the wreck has deteriorated significantly. Only the lower portion of the hull remains, along with some of its planking and keelson. The wreck is located in the lower bay at Clayton, specifically between Washington Island and the old Frink Snowplow Factory on the east corner of the village.

Historical records provide some insights into related vessels and events. The 1876 St. Lawrence River Chart No 6, created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, mentions a wreck off Washington Island in the lower bay at Clayton. Captain Wilber J. Vincent, a resident of Clayton, noted in his journal that he served as the captain of the schooner Elk in early 1873. Later that year, he was reassigned to the schooner Belle Mitchell. An article from the Watertown Re-Union newspaper dated March 5, 1874, mentions plans to raise and haul out the schooner Elk onto Washington Island in the upcoming spring. Additionally, nineteenth-century paintings of the lower bay at Clayton depict frames and ribs protruding from the water in the area where the wreck currently lies.

Overall, the specific history and details of the schooner wreck, including its name and any notable events surrounding its sinking, remain largely unknown. The available information provides a glimpse into its existence and location but leaves much to speculation and further research.