Shotline Diving

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C.Y. Richmond (1856)

Explore the wreck of the C.Y. Richmond, a mid-19th century schooner-barge lost in a violent gale on Lake Erie.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: C.Y. Richmond
  • Type: Schooner-barge
  • Year Built: 1846
  • Builder: Sanford & Moses, Cleveland
  • Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: 230 tons
  • Location: Off Dunkirk, New York
  • Coordinates: 42.4860° N, 79.3380° W

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Type: Schooner-barge

Description

The C.Y. Richmond was a wooden schooner-barge built in 1846 by Sanford & Moses in Cleveland. It had a registered tonnage of 230 tons and was homeported in Buffalo, NY.

History

The C.Y. Richmond represented the rise of American schooner-barge trade on Lake Erie, built shortly after the War of 1812. It was involved in maritime activities until its loss in 1870.

Significant Incidents

  • Date of Loss: November 1, 1870
  • Cause of Loss: Violent gale/storm
  • Cargo at Time of Loss: Limestone
  • Loss of Life: None (0 of 7 crew members)

Final Disposition

The C.Y. Richmond was declared a total loss after being pushed ashore during a powerful gale. All seven crew members were rescued by local sailors.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck was located in 1902 and is presumed broken or buried. Its current condition is unknown, and it may be silt-covered or fragmented. There are no confirmed modern surveys.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”c-y-richmond-1856″ title=”References & Links”]

As one of the oldest vessels wrecked off Dunkirk, the C.Y. Richmond serves as a rare example of mid-19th century schooner-barge design and highlights the maritime history of Lake Erie.

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.

Shipwreck Report: C.Y. RICHMOND

Vessel Information

  • Vessel Name: C.Y. Richmond
  • Other Names: Possibly F.S. Richmond or C.T. Richmond
  • Vessel Type: Schooner-barge
  • Construction: Wood
  • Builder: Sanford & Moses, Cleveland
  • Build Year: 1846
  • Tonnage: 230 tons
  • Home Port: Buffalo, NY

Loss Details

  • Date of Loss: November 1, 1870
  • Lake: Lake Erie
  • Location: Off Dunkirk, New York
  • Coordinates (approx.): 42.4860° N, 79.3380° W
  • Cause of Loss: Violent gale/storm

Incident Description:

While carrying a load of limestone en route to Dunkirk, the C.Y. Richmond encountered a powerful gale that pushed her ashore near Dunkirk, NY. The storm was responsible for the destruction of many vessels on the lakes that day. Despite the wreck, all 7 crew members survived, rescued by local sailors from the shore. She was declared a total loss.

  • Cargo at Time of Loss: Limestone
  • Loss of Life: None (0 of 7)

Current Wreck Status

  • Wreck Condition: Located in 1902; presumed broken or buried
  • Dive Accessibility: Unknown
  • Known Surveys: Possibly historic; no modern survey confirmed
  • Hazards: Likely silt-covered or fragmented
  • Remarks: One of the oldest vessels wrecked off Dunkirk; a rare example of mid-19th century schooner-barge design
  • Coordinates: 42.4860° N, 79.3380° W Off Dunkirk, NY – based on historical reports

Historical Significance

Built just a few decades after the War of 1812, the C.Y. Richmond represented the rise of American schooner-barge trade on Lake Erie. Her loss during a historic 1870 gale is part of a larger maritime tragedy that struck multiple vessels on that same day.

c-y-richmond-1856 1870-11-01 15:38:00