Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: GREY, E.G.
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1854
- Builder: G. Thayer, Ashtabula, Ohio
- Dimensions: Length 94 ft (28.7 m); Beam 24 ft (7.3 m); Depth 8 ft (2.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 166 18/95 tons (old style); 118.49 tons (gross)
- Location: Approximately 3/4 mile north of Casco River, near Kewaunee, Lake Michigan
- Coordinates: Not precisely recorded
- Official Number: 7305
- Original Owners: C.G. Grey & Co.
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The GREY, E.G. was a typical mid-19th-century two-masted wooden schooner, built to serve the Chicago-area lumber trade. Her relatively broad beam and moderate depth made her well suited to hauling bulk cargoes such as cordwood and general goods on the upper lakes.
Description
Launched in 1854 for C.G. Grey & Co. of Chicago, the GREY, E.G. operated mainly in the lumber and wood trade, transporting essential supplies throughout the rapidly developing Great Lakes ports.
History
Throughout her career, she endured multiple incidents:
- 1856, May 4: Collision with the schooner MAGIC at Chicago
- 1861, October 22: Aground at Presque Isle, Lake Huron
- 1862, October: Lost her main boom on Lake Michigan
- 1874, September: Outfit damaged in heavy weather on Lake Michigan
The vessel saw several repairs and continued in service until 3 May 1875, when she sank near Kewaunee while loading 100 cords of wood. There is no record of loss of life.
Significant Incidents
- 1856, May 4: Collision with the schooner MAGIC at Chicago
- 1861, October 22: Aground at Presque Isle, Lake Huron
- 1862, October: Lost her main boom on Lake Michigan
- 1874, September: Outfit damaged in heavy weather on Lake Michigan
Final Disposition
The GREY, E.G. went down close to shore, but no salvage was recorded, and the wreck is assumed to have broken up over time.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The site is presumed scattered, with no archaeological survey documented.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”e-g-grey-us-7305″ title=”References & Links”]
The GREY, E.G. represents a classic example of the mid-century lumber schooner, operating through multiple mishaps in a tough trade. Her final sinking while loading cordwood near Kewaunee illustrates the hazards faced by such working schooners on the Great Lakes.
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.
Identification & Site Information
- Name: GREY, E.G.
- Official Number: 7305
- Year Built: 1854
- Type: Schooner
- Builder: G. Thayer, Ashtabula, Ohio
- Hull Material: Wood
- Number of Decks: 1
- Number of Masts: 2
- Length: 94 feet (28.7 metres)
- Beam: 24 feet (7.3 metres)
- Depth: 8 feet (2.4 metres)
- Tonnage (old style): 166 18/95 tons
- Gross Tonnage: 118.49 tons
- Final Location: Approximately 3/4 mile north of Casco River, near Kewaunee, Lake Michigan
- Date Lost: 3 May 1875
- How Lost: Sank while loading
- Final Cargo: 100 cords of wood
- Coordinates: Not precisely recorded
Vessel Type Description
The GREY, E.G. was a typical mid-19th-century two-masted wooden schooner, built to serve the Chicago-area lumber trade. Her relatively broad beam and moderate depth made her well suited to hauling bulk cargoes such as cordwood and general goods on the upper lakes.
History
Launched in 1854 for C.G. Grey & Co. of Chicago, the GREY, E.G. operated mainly in the lumber and wood trade, transporting essential supplies throughout the rapidly developing Great Lakes ports.
Throughout her career, she endured multiple incidents:
- 1856, May 4: Collision with the schooner MAGIC at Chicago
- 1861, October 22: Aground at Presque Isle, Lake Huron
- 1862, October: Lost her main boom on Lake Michigan
- 1874, September: Outfit damaged in heavy weather on Lake Michigan
The vessel saw several repairs and continued in service until 3 May 1875, when she sank near Kewaunee while loading 100 cords of wood. There is no record of loss of life.
Final Disposition
The GREY, E.G. went down close to shore, but no salvage was recorded, and the wreck is assumed to have broken up over time.
NOTMARs & Advisories
No current Notices to Mariners apply to this wreck site. However, mariners should continue to exercise caution near the shallow loading areas along the Kewaunee waterfront.
Located By & Date
No confirmed location of the wreck has been reported in modern records.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The site is presumed scattered, with no archaeological survey documented.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Great Lakes Vessels Database
- NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Conclusion
The GREY, E.G. represents a classic example of the mid-century lumber schooner, operating through multiple mishaps in a tough trade. Her final sinking while loading cordwood near Kewaunee illustrates the hazards faced by such working schooners on the Great Lakes.
Keywords
GREY E.G., Schooner, Lake Michigan Shipwreck, Lumber Trade, 19th Century Great Lakes, Kewaunee, Maritime History