Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Ada (1857)

Explore the wreck of the Ada, a wooden schooner lost in 1859 near Collingwood, Ontario, with a rich history tied to Great Lakes trade.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Ada
  • Type: Schooner, Wood
  • Year Built: 1857
  • Builder: E.L. Herrick (tentative)
  • Dimensions: Length: 88 ft (26.8 m); Beam: 22 ft (6.7 m); Depth: 6 ft (1.8 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 110 tons
  • Location: Near Collingwood, Ontario
  • Official Number: Unknown
  • Original Owners: Unknown
  • Number of Masts: Unknown

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The ADA was a modest-sized wooden schooner, typical of mid-19th century vessels that served on the Great Lakes. Schooners like ADA were vital to the movement of bulk goods such as timber, grain, coal, and other commodities between rapidly growing towns along the shores of the lakes. Their shallow drafts made them especially suitable for accessing smaller harbors and rivers, crucial for local economies.

Description

While the exact details of ADA‘s service history remain incomplete, the vessel likely played a role in the bustling maritime trade of the Great Lakes during the late 1850s. Fairport, Ohio, where she was possibly built, was an important port town known for producing sturdy wooden schooners that were widely used throughout Lakes Erie and Huron.

History

In 1859, just two years after being launched, the ADA met her end near Collingwood, Ontario, on Lake Huron. Details of the incident are scarce, but it is recorded that the schooner sank within sight of Collingwood. This suggests the possibility of a sudden storm or structural failure that prevented the vessel from reaching safe harbor.

Unfortunately, information regarding loss of life, the cargo she was carrying, or the specific circumstances leading to her sinking remains unknown. It is also unclear whether any salvage efforts were made following her loss.

Significant Incidents

  • Place of Loss: Near Collingwood, Ontario, Lake Huron
  • Date of Loss: 1859
  • Type of Loss: Sank

Final Disposition

Located By: No documentation of discovery has been recorded.

Date Found: The wreck of the ADA has not been identified or located to date.

Current Condition & Accessibility

NOTMARs: No current notices issued regarding the ADA.

Advisories: Mariners in the vicinity of Collingwood, Ontario, should remain aware of potential underwater obstructions from unidentified wrecks in the area.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The schooner ADA represents one of many lesser-known vessels that were lost during the early days of Great Lakes maritime commerce. Though her service was brief, vessels like ADA were the backbone of regional trade, supporting the economic development of ports such as Collingwood, Ontario, and Fairport, Ohio. While much about her final voyage remains a mystery, continued research and exploration may yet uncover her story, adding to the rich maritime history of Lake Huron.