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
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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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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