Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Acorn (1842)

Explore the history of the Acorn, a resilient schooner that navigated the Great Lakes and faced multiple collisions during its service.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Acorn
  • Type: Schooner, Wooden, 2-Mast
  • Year Built: 1842
  • Builder: T.H. Cobb
  • Dimensions: Length: 84 ft (25.6 m); Beam: 20 ft (6.1 m); Depth: 8 ft (2.4 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 125 tonnage (Old Style)
  • Location: Near West Sister Island, Lake Erie
  • Official Number: None
  • Original Owners: Buffalo, New York, given trading routes
  • Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The ACORN was a mid-sized wooden schooner, typical of the 1840s Great Lakes fleet, designed for transporting bulk cargo such as flour, oil cake, and lumber products like hoop poles. Schooners of this size were critical in supporting the rapidly growing Midwest economy, ferrying goods between burgeoning ports such as Buffalo, Cleveland, and Chicago. The ACORN’s shallow draft allowed it to access smaller, more remote harbours and navigate tricky waterways, such as those around Lake Erie’s island chains.

Description

The ACORN had a tumultuous career, reflecting the dangers of early Great Lakes navigation in the mid-19th century. Its history includes two significant collisions and subsequent recoveries, highlighting both the vessel’s resilience and the risks faced by early mariners.

1842 – Construction & Early Service. The ACORN was built by T.H. Cobb at Black River (Charleston), Ohio, a burgeoning shipbuilding centre along Lake Erie. Soon after its launch, it began operating on the Buffalo to Chicago route, transporting goods essential to the westward expansion of American settlements.

August 31, 1842 – First Major Collision. While bound from Buffalo to Chicago, the ACORN collided with the schooner EMILY on a particularly dark night off Vermilion, Ohio. The collision occurred in 60 feet of water, causing the ACORN to sink quickly. Tragically, one life was lost, and 45 immigrants aboard lost an estimated $4,000 in gold—a considerable sum for the time. The ship was later salvaged and returned to service, a testament to the value placed on vessels during this era of high maritime demand.

1849 – Final Collision and Loss. On July 31, 1849, the ACORN met its final fate near West Sister Island, Lake Erie. While carrying a cargo of flour, oil cake, and hoop poles, the schooner collided with the propeller TROY. The TROY struck the ACORN directly amidships, causing the vessel to founder quickly. Fortunately, no lives were lost, as the crew managed to transfer to the TROY. Despite the severity of this incident, records indicate that the ACORN was recovered once again and continued in service until at least 1852.

History

The final fate of the ACORN remains somewhat unclear, though the vessel was last noted in active service around 1852. Its repeated recoveries from significant sinkings demonstrate both the resilience of wooden schooner construction and the economic importance of maintaining a merchant fleet on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. It is likely the schooner was eventually retired or lost in an unrecorded incident.

Significant Incidents

  • 1842: First major collision with the EMILY, resulting in one fatality and significant cargo loss.
  • 1849: Final collision with the TROY, leading to the vessel’s sinking, but no lives lost.

Final Disposition

The final fate of the ACORN remains somewhat unclear, though the vessel was last noted in active service around 1852. Its repeated recoveries from significant sinkings demonstrate both the resilience of wooden schooner construction and the economic importance of maintaining a merchant fleet on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. It is likely the schooner was eventually retired or lost in an unrecorded incident.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Located By: No modern discovery or wreck site identification has been confirmed for the ACORN.

Date Found: Not identified.

NOTMARs: None currently issued for this vessel.

Advisories: The areas near West Sister Island and Vermilion, Ohio are known for historical wrecks, and mariners should exercise caution due to submerged hazards and changing lake conditions.

Resources & Links

The ACORN exemplifies the rugged nature of 19th-century schooners on the Great Lakes, having survived multiple collisions and recoveries. Its role in transporting vital goods like flour and lumber products highlights the importance of such vessels in the economic expansion of the American Midwest. Though ultimately lost from the historical record after 1852, the ACORN’s story remains a testament to the resilience of early maritime commerce on Lake Erie.