Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Crevola
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1848
- Builder: Ruggles & Shupe, Milan, Ohio
- Dimensions: 107 ft 8 in × 23 ft 10 in × 9 ft 1 in (32.8 m × 7.3 m × 2.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 212.8 tons (old measure)
- Location: Near Port Bruce, Ontario
- Official Number: Not documented
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A mid-19th-century wooden schooner used for bulk grain transport on the Great Lakes, representing typical regional commercial practices.
Description
Crafted with heavy timber framing suited for the grain trade, the Crevola featured a spacious hold for bulk cargo. She had two masts with fore-and-aft sails and minimal superstructure.
History
- 1848: Launched and enrolled at Sandusky, Ohio; later re-registered in Buffalo, NY.
- 1852–1854: Changes in ownership included Detroit-based trade; grounded in Milwaukee (1856), later repaired and re-engaged in Lake Erie transport.
- 1857–1862: Incident-prone, survived collisions and groundings, followed by rebuilding efforts in 1859.
- 1863 (June–Sept): Collided with ISABEL in Toledo Bay; grounded near Point Pelee.
- 28 October 1863: While carrying wheat, lost in a storm off Port Bruce, Lake Erie, after struggling ashore and breaking up. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Elgin County)
Final Disposition
Grounded during the storm and broken up by heavy surf. There is no detailed record of salvage efforts, and the hull was likely fragmented by subsequent wave action.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No known archaeological surveys or remapping efforts. Wreckage remains likely scattered in shallow waters off Port Bruce. No dive or survey logs exist.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”crevola-1848″ title=”References & Links”]
Crevola’s 1863 loss exemplifies the dangers faced by wooden schooners on Lake Erie—especially during late-season storms with heavy cargo. Despite surviving earlier collisions and groundings, she succumbed to autumn weather off Port Bruce. Today, Crevola is remembered through registry entries and shipwreck catalogues, though no physical remains have been located.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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