Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Citizen
- Type: Wooden-hulled schooner, single-deck, two-masted
- Year Built: 1835
- Builder: John Richards
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: ~160 tons (later remeasured to 149 tons after 1857 rebuilds)
- Location: Fairport Harbor, Ohio, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 4273
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A typical early–19th-century Great Lakes schooner, built for freight work such as hauling lumber, grain, and general cargo.
Description
Wooden hull with two masts suited to fore-and-aft sailing. Simple construction, single deck layout, no steam power or auxiliary machinery. Period-typical lines with shallow draft for inland lake operations.
History
- 1847: Rebuilt after 12 years service
- 1849: Enrolled at Presque Isle, PA
- 25 May 1853: Went ashore ~6 miles north of Buffalo
- 8 Oct 1853: Collision with schooner Trade Wind
- 1857: Major rebuilding; tonnage adjusted to 149 tons
- 1860–1864: Ownership transferred to C.M. Reed and William Bone in Erie
- 6 May 1864: Damaged in Detroit River when struck by two other schooners
- 1865: Official tonnage recalculated (116 gross)
- 1866: Ownership recorded in Erie and Buffalo
- By 1873: Considered among the oldest operational vessels afloat on the Great Lakes
Significant Incidents
- Loss Date: 15 April 1873
- Loss Method: Torn from moorings during a storm and sank
Final Disposition
Sank on 15 April 1873 after being torn from her moorings at Fairport Harbor during a high wind storm. While the hull sank, her cargo and fittings were salvaged quickly. A salvage scow removed gear on 26 April, and the wreck was removed by 28 June.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Not applicable — player was removed shortly after sinking. No known underwater remains exist.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”citizen-us-4273″ title=”References & Links”]
The Citizen was a venerable schooner of the pre–steam era, with nearly 40 years of service across Great Lakes routes—remarkable longevity in a time of rapid technological transition. Though her loss was unremarkable (a storm-driven sinking), she is remembered for her distinguished service and age at the time of her demise.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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