Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: DUNKIRK
- Type: Wooden Two-Masted Schooner
- Year Built: 1823
- Builder: Unknown, Venice, Ohio
- Dimensions: Length: 51 ft (15.5 m); Beam: 15 ft (4.6 m); Depth of hold: 5 ft (1.5 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 34 tons
- Location: Near Cattaraugus Creek, New York
- Official Number: None
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The DUNKIRK was a two-masted wooden schooner, among the earliest vessels to sail the Great Lakes, built for merchant transport.
Key Features of Early Great Lakes Schooners:
- Designed for carrying merchandise and bulk goods
- Fore-and-aft rigging allowed for easier sailing in changing lake winds
- Smaller in size compared to later schooners, making them susceptible to storms
At 51 feet in length and 34 tons, the DUNKIRK was a small schooner, used for short-haul trade between ports on Lake Erie.
Description
The DUNKIRK was one of the early schooners built for Great Lakes commerce, operating during the 1820s, when lake transport was just beginning to expand.
History
The DUNKIRK was built in Venice, Ohio, one of the earliest shipbuilding centers on Lake Erie.
Key Events in the Vessel’s History:
- 1823: Built in Venice, Ohio, one of the earliest shipbuilding centers on Lake Erie.
- 1829, Late November: Wrecked in a storm near Cattaraugus Creek, New York.
Significant Incidents
The DUNKIRK was lost in late November 1829, after being driven ashore in a storm near Cattaraugus Creek, New York.
- The vessel encountered rough weather and was pushed onto the shoreline.
- Heavy waves pounded the wooden hull, breaking it entirely to pieces.
- The crew survived, as no loss of life was recorded.
Due to the schooner’s small size and wooden construction, it was completely destroyed by the storm, leaving no chance for salvage or recovery.
This wreck is one of the earliest recorded shipwrecks on Lake Erie, highlighting the unpredictable dangers of early Great Lakes navigation.
Final Disposition
Nil return. There are no confirmed reports of the DUNKIRK‘s wreck remains being discovered or documented.
Given its small wooden structure, the remains were scattered and deteriorated beyond recognition.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Nil return. No modern navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported near Cattaraugus Creek, New York.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”dunkirk-1823″ title=”References & Links”]
The DUNKIRK was a small merchant schooner that fell victim to an early Lake Erie storm in 1829. With no recorded survivors lost, it was completely destroyed by the waves, leaving no remains to be salvaged.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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