City Of Painesville

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: City Of Painesville
• Type: Three-Masted Wooden Bark
• Year Built: 1867
• Builder: Bailey Bros.
• Dimensions: 132 ft (40.23 m); 34 ft; 13 ft
• Registered Tonnage: 601 tons
• Depth at Wreck Site: 21 m / 70 ft
• Location: Off Ashtabula, Ohio
• Coordinates: Approx. 41°50’N, 80°30’W
• Original Owners: W.H. Ingram of Buffalo, New York
• Number of Masts: Three

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The CITY OF PAINESVILLE was a wooden bark, a three-masted sailing ship designed primarily for cargo transport. Built in 1867 by Bailey Bros. in Fairport, Ohio, the vessel was specifically constructed for the Great Lakes trade. Its dimensions—132 feet in length, 34 feet in beam, and 13 feet in depth—and gross tonnage of 601 tons made it capable of hauling large bulk cargoes such as coal, which it carried on its final voyage. The bark’s sturdy build exemplified the design of mid-19th-century Great Lakes cargo vessels.

Description

The CITY OF PAINESVILLE sank to the bottom of Lake Erie, off the coast of Ashtabula, Ohio. The wreck lies at an estimated 70 feet (21 meters). Though the general location has been known since its sinking, the wreck remains largely unexplored. Its condition is presumed to be deteriorated, with the wooden structure scattered across the lakebed along with remnants of its coal cargo.

History

Construction and Service: The CITY OF PAINESVILLE was launched in 1867 and owned by W.H. Ingram of Buffalo, New York. Serving the Great Lakes’ bustling cargo routes, it transported bulk goods such as coal, a critical resource for the industrial growth of the region. The vessel encountered several grounding incidents during its career, including:

• 1869: Stranded north of Manistee, Michigan.
• 1872: Ran aground near Escanaba, Michigan.

Final Voyage: On October 18, 1874, the CITY OF PAINESVILLE was acting as a consort to the propeller COLIN CAMPBELL, transporting coal. Faced with worsening winds, the bark was released to sail independently under its own canvas to improve speed. Shortly after, the bark collided with the schooner HALSTEAD near Ashtabula, Ohio. The collision caused severe damage to the bark’s port bow, and it sank rapidly, disappearing into the depths of Lake Erie within minutes. The entire crew survived, escaping to the HALSTEAD in a lifeboat. However, the financial loss was devastating:

• Vessel value: $75,000
• Cargo insured for $9,000 and $7,300 (Detroit Fire and Union Marine insurance companies).
• The owner had recently canceled half of the vessel’s insurance coverage, compounding the financial impact.

The wreck and coal cargo were declared unsalvageable, and the CITY OF PAINESVILLE was a total loss.

Significant Incidents

• October 18, 1874: Collision with the schooner HALSTEAD leading to sinking.

Final Disposition

The CITY OF PAINESVILLE sank to the bottom of Lake Erie, off the coast of Ashtabula, Ohio. The wreck lies at an estimated 70 feet (21 meters). Though the general location has been known since its sinking, the wreck remains largely unexplored. Its condition is presumed to be deteriorated, with the wooden structure scattered across the lakebed along with remnants of its coal cargo.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is likely heavily degraded due to age and environmental factors. The wooden hull and coal cargo remain scattered, providing a potential site for future archaeological exploration. Accessibility: Resting at a moderate depth of 70 feet (21 meters), the site is accessible to experienced divers. However, detailed mapping and exploration efforts have yet to be reported.

Resources & Links

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The CITY OF PAINESVILLE is a stark reminder of the perils faced by mariners on the Great Lakes in the 19th century. Despite its sturdy design and history of service, the vessel’s untimely loss due to a collision in rough weather illustrates the challenges of navigation and cargo transport during that era. The survival of the entire crew highlights the resilience and quick thinking of sailors, even under dire circumstances. Today, the wreck remains a largely unexplored chapter in Lake Erie’s rich maritime history, offering opportunities for research and underwater exploration.