Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Asa Childs
- Type: Scow-Schooner
- Year Built: 1866
- Builder: E.L. Herrick, Mentor (Headland), Ohio
- Dimensions: Length: 125 ft (38.1 m); Beam: 26 ft (7.9 m); Depth: 8 ft (2.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 205 tons
- Location: Approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Highland Park, Illinois
- Official Number: 390
- Original Owners: Captain E. Durant of Buffalo
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled, three-masted scow-schooner
Description
The Asa Childs was a wooden scow-schooner constructed in 1866 by E.L. Herrick in Mentor, Ohio. Scow-schooners were characterized by their flat bottoms and squared-off bows and sterns, making them ideal for navigating shallow waters and carrying bulk cargoes like lumber. Measuring 125 feet in length, the Asa Childs was designed for transporting lumber across the Great Lakes. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
History
On June 1, 1879, the Asa Childs was inbound from Hamlin, Michigan, carrying a cargo of lumber. While navigating Lake Michigan, she encountered a severe storm and was driven ashore approximately 1 mile north of Highland Park, Illinois. The vessel was reported as a total wreck shortly thereafter. At the time of her loss, the Asa Childs was owned by her skipper, Captain E. Durant of Buffalo.
Significant Incidents
- Driven ashore during a storm on June 1, 1879.
Final Disposition
The Asa Childs was driven ashore and wrecked during a storm on Lake Michigan. There is no record of salvage operations or attempts to recover the vessel. Her remains were likely left at the wreck site.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of current records, there is no documentation indicating that the wreck of the Asa Childs has been located or explored by maritime archaeologists or divers.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”asa-childs-us-390″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Asa Childs underscores the perils faced by maritime vessels on the Great Lakes during the 19th century, particularly those involved in the lumber trade. Her wreck near Highland Park, Illinois, adds to the numerous shipwrecks that have occurred in Lake Michigan, contributing to the rich maritime history of the region. While the exact location of her wreck remains unknown, the Asa Childs’ story is a testament to the challenges of lake navigation during that era. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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