Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Elyria
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1867
- Builder: George Hardison, Charlotte, New York
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Stranded and wrecked near northern shore of the peninsula at Erie, Lake Erie
- Original Owners: W. L. Fay, Elyria, Ohio
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A wooden schooner used in Great Lakes commerce during the late 19th century, Elyria served as a regional trading vessel between ports on Lake Erie. Its typical duties would have included transporting general cargo, lumber, or seasonal goods. Schooners like the Elyria were common before widespread steam propulsion, especially for smaller port-to-port trade.
Description
Built in Charlotte, New York, and owned out of Elyria, Ohio, the schooner was representative of the utilitarian build of its time—wooden hull, two or three masts, and unpowered save for sail. These vessels depended on fair weather and good seamanship, but were vulnerable to late-season storms, especially when sailing light.
History
On or about 30 October 1870, Elyria was caught in a gale while navigating near the Presque Isle peninsula off Erie, Pennsylvania. The schooner was driven ashore by the storm and wrecked near the northern beach of the peninsula. Two crew members perished in the incident. Details on cargo are not known, suggesting she may have been in ballast or lightly loaded.
The incident was noted in maritime reports as one of several fall wrecks along Lake Erie’s exposed northern coast. No records indicate successful salvage or recovery.
Significant Incidents
- Two crew fatalities reported during the grounding.
Final Disposition
The vessel was a total loss. No salvage operation is recorded, and it is presumed the remains were left to disintegrate naturally near shore, possibly covered over time by sediment or shoreline changes.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No official dive or recovery efforts have been documented. The exact wreck site is uncharted but likely lies just offshore of Presque Isle, Pennsylvania.
No known navigational hazards currently exist from the wreck. Storm activity and shoaling in the area remain seasonal concerns for small craft.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”elyria-1867″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Elyria represents another example of how vulnerable late-season shipping was on the Great Lakes in the sail-powered era. Two lives were lost, and the vessel was completely destroyed, likely within sight of land. Today, Elyria is remembered in brief mentions among the many schooner losses that occurred in Lake Erie’s unpredictable fall weather.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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