Forest Maid US 37131

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Forest Maid
• Type: Two-masted scow-schooner (wooden)
• Year Built: 1853
• Builder: William Myers, Sheffield, Ohio
• Dimensions: 74 × 19 × 3 ft (length × beam × depth); 14 gt (37 gt old measure)
• Registered Tonnage: 14 gt (37 gt old measure)
• Location: Between Cedar Point and Marblehead, Ohio
• Official Number: 37131
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

A modest wooden scow-schooner used for general freight. Scows were flat-bottomed, making them ideal for rivers and near-shore hauling on the Great Lakes.

Description

Forest Maid was a modest, two-masted scow-schooner built in 1853. In May 1872, she was fatally damaged in a collision with the propeller steamer Granite State, then taken to a bar by the tug Mystic and abandoned as a total loss. Her remains rest in shallow water between Cedar Point and Marblehead, Ohio, with no recorded casualties.

History

Short career likely spent transporting bulk commodities—records don’t specify cargo, but context suggests grain or general freight typical of scows.

Significant Incidents

• Collided in early May 1872 with the propeller steamer Granite State
• Impact crushed her decks; she sank onto her deck structure
• The tug Mystic towed her to a shoal/bar approximately halfway between Cedar Point and Marblehead
• Vessel stripped on-site and declared a total loss
• No loss of life reported

Final Disposition

The Forest Maid was declared a total loss after the collision and subsequent abandonment. Her remains are located in shallow waters.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the Forest Maid is confirmed and remains in shallow water, accessible for diving under appropriate conditions.

Resources & Links

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Divers interested in the Forest Maid can explore a significant piece of maritime history, reflecting the challenges faced by vessels operating on the Great Lakes in the 19th century.