History
The CALEDONIA was a A Typical 1800s Great Lakes Schooner built in 1837 in Oswego, New York. It was a two-masted wooden vessel with a length of 70 feet, width of 20 feet, and depth of 8 feet. The tonnage of the ship was recorded as 110 tons using the old measurement system.
On November 2, 1851, the Caledonia encountered a severe storm near Port Burwell on Lake Erie. The schooner was blown ashore and wrecked as a result of the storm. The specific cargo it was carrying at the time of the incident is mentioned as either lumber or coal. There is no mention of any loss of life in the reports.
The Caledonia had a history of trading between Buffalo and Lake Erie ports and had been enrolled in various ports throughout its existence, including Oswego and Cleveland. In 1848, it was involved in a collision with the steamer Hudson in Cleveland, resulting in damage to its stern. In December 1849, the vessel was put up for auction at a marshal’s sale.
The final fate of the Caledonia was reported as a wreck on the Canadian side of Lake Erie. The ship was completely wrecked near Port Burwell, Canada, and it was described as an old vessel that had been engaged in the coal and lumber trade. The loss of the Caledonia was reported in newspapers in January and November 1852.
