Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Alice Grover
- Type: Wooden scow-brig
- Year Built: 1856
- Builder: S. Johnson, Napanee, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 206 tons
- Location: Near Cleveland, Ohio, Lake Erie
- Official Number: None (Canadian registry)
- Number of Masts: Two-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden scow-brig, two-masted (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Description
The Alice Grover was a two-masted wooden scow-brig constructed in 1856 by S. Johnson in Napanee, Ontario. Designed for cargo transport, she had a gross tonnage of 206 tons and was primarily engaged in the coal trade across the Great Lakes. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
History
On June 16, 1866, the Alice Grover departed Cleveland, Ohio, bound for Toronto, Ontario, carrying a cargo of 325 tons of coal. The following day, June 17, she encountered a surprisingly violent late spring storm on Lake Erie. While attempting to seek refuge in Cleveland Harbor, the vessel was driven ashore near the city’s woolen mill. The storm’s intensity caused the Alice Grover to break apart on the beach. Tragically, the ship’s cook drowned in the incident, while the remaining crew members managed to swim ashore to safety. (Alchem Incorporated)
Significant Incidents
- Loss of the Alice Grover occurred on June 17, 1866, due to a storm.
- One crew member, the cook, drowned during the incident.
Final Disposition
The Alice Grover was declared a total loss after the storm. There are no records indicating salvage operations or recovery efforts following the incident.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Nil – The wreck of the Alice Grover has not been definitively located or confirmed in modern times.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”alice-grover-1856″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The loss of the Alice Grover underscores the hazards faced by cargo vessels operating on the Great Lakes during the 19th century, particularly the risk of sudden and severe storms. The incident highlights the challenges of maritime navigation and the vulnerability of ships to natural forces during that era.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
ALICE GROVER (1856–1866)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: ALICE GROVER
- Former Names: None
- Official Number: None (Canadian registry)
- Date Built and Launched: 1856
- Builder: S. Johnson, Napanee, Ontario
- Measurements:
- Gross Tonnage: 206 tons
- Date Lost: June 17, 1866
- Cause: Storm
- Cargo at Time of Loss: 325 tons of coal
- Place of Loss: Near Cleveland, Ohio, Lake Erie
- Loss of Life: 1 (the cook)(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, linkstothepast.com, Alchem Incorporated, Dreamstime)
Vessel Type
Wooden scow-brig, two-masted(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Description
The ALICE GROVER was a two-masted wooden scow-brig constructed in 1856 by S. Johnson in Napanee, Ontario. Designed for cargo transport, she had a gross tonnage of 206 tons and was primarily engaged in the coal trade across the Great Lakes.(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
History
On June 16, 1866, the ALICE GROVER departed Cleveland, Ohio, bound for Toronto, Ontario, carrying a cargo of 325 tons of coal. The following day, June 17, she encountered a surprisingly violent late spring storm on Lake Erie. While attempting to seek refuge in Cleveland Harbor, the vessel was driven ashore near the city’s woolen mill. The storm’s intensity caused the ALICE GROVER to break apart on the beach. Tragically, the ship’s cook drowned in the incident, while the remaining crew members managed to swim ashore to safety. (Alchem Incorporated)
Final Disposition
The ALICE GROVER was declared a total loss after the storm. There are no records indicating salvage operations or recovery efforts following the incident.
Located By & Date Found
Nil – The wreck of the ALICE GROVER has not been definitively located or confirmed in modern times.
Notmars & Advisories
Nil – No current navigational warnings or official markers exist for the wreck site of the ALICE GROVER in Lake Erie.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – G
- Lake Erie Shipwreck Map “B” and Index
- History of the Great Lakes – Wisconsin Genealogy Resources
Conclusion
The loss of the ALICE GROVER underscores the hazards faced by cargo vessels operating on the Great Lakes during the 19th century, particularly the risk of sudden and severe storms. The incident highlights the challenges of maritime navigation and the vulnerability of ships to natural forces during that era.
Suggested Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms
- Keywords: ALICE GROVER, Lake Erie shipwreck, 1866 storm, wooden scow-brig, coal transport, Cleveland maritime history
- Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Maritime Disasters, Wooden Sailing Vessels
- Glossary Terms:
- Scow-Brig: A flat-bottomed vessel with two masts, combining features of a scow and a brig, used primarily for cargo transport.
- Driven Ashore: A situation where a vessel is forced onto the shore due to weather conditions or navigational errors.
- Total Loss: A term indicating that a vessel is considered completely destroyed or beyond repair.(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)