Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: George C. Finney
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1866
- Builder: G. Goble
- Dimensions: ~130 ft (39.6 m); Beam: 26 ft; Depth of hold: 10 ft
- Registered Tonnage: ~301 gross tons, ~286 net tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 30 m / 100 ft
- Location: Approximately 16 miles south of Port Maitland, Ontario
- Coordinates: 42°40′5.22″N, 79°36′15.00″W
- Official Number: 10545
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Originally three, later converted to two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
George C. Finney was a wooden schooner, originally built with three masts and later converted to two. It was primarily used for bulk wheat freight across Lake Erie.
Description
Constructed of timber as a three-masted wooden schooner, George C. Finney was later reduced to two masts. Measuring roughly 130 ft in length and displacing around 300 tons gross, she was typical of mid-19th century freight schooners transporting grain across the long hauls of Lake Erie.
History
- Built in 1866 at Oswego, NY. She plied Lake Erie freight lanes for nearly 25 years. At the time of her last voyage she was commanded by an experienced captain and considered seaworthy.
- On November 14 or 15, 1891, while en route from Toledo to Buffalo with a cargo of wheat, George C. Finney encountered a severe storm— or gale— on Lake Erie. She foundered and sank during the gale.
- Crew: All seven crew members were lost at sea; no survivors.
Significant Incidents
- Loss Date: November 15, 1891 (also cited as November 17 in some sources; the primary index lists November 15).
- Location of loss: Lake Erie, approximately 16 miles south of Port Maitland, Ontario.
Final Disposition
After foundering in the storm, George C. Finney sank intact in deep water. The wreck remains at approximately 100 ft depth. Her loss was total with no rescue.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site was discovered by Niagara Divers Association in the early 2000s. A temporary mooring buoy was installed in June 2002; the location was kept confidential until further survey documentation was published. The site is now an advanced-level dive location, visited by technical divers. GPS coordinates confirm the identification.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”george-c-finney-us-10545″ title=”References & Links”]
George C. Finney represents a tragic example of mid-19th century Great Lakes grain schooners. Despite the vessel’s seaworthy reputation and experienced crew, she succumbed to one of Lake Erie’s late-fall gales in November 1891. The wreck was located in the early 2000s and is now documented as an intact deep-water site of significant maritime-historical interest.
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.
(Official No. 10545; built 1866; lost Nov 15, 1891)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Official number: 10545 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, niagaradivers.com)
- Year built: 1866 at Oswego, New York by G. Goble (niagaradivers.com)
- Vessel type: Wooden, originally a three-masted schooner (later converted to two), used for bulk wheat freight (niagaradivers.com)
- Dimensions: ~130 ft length × 26 ft beam × 10 ft draft; gross tonnage ~301 tons, net ~286 tons (niagaradivers.com)
- Cargo: Wheat, bound from Toledo to Buffalo (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Date of loss: November 15, 1891 (also cited as Nov 17 in some sources; the primary index lists Nov 15) (niagaradivers.com)
- Location of loss: Lake Erie, approximately 16 mi south of Port Maitland, Ontario (~15 mi S of Port Maitland); GPS ~42°40′5.22″ N, 79°36′15.00″ W; wreck at depth ~100 ft (30 m) (niagaradivers.com)
Description
Constructed of timber as a three-masted wooden schooner, George C. Finney was later reduced to two masts. Measuring roughly 130 ft in length and displacing around 300 tons gross, she was typical of mid‑19th century freight schooners transporting grain across the long hauls of Lake Erie.
History & Operational Details
- Built in 1866 at Oswego, NY. She plied Lake Erie freight lanes for nearly 25 years. At the time of her last voyage she was commanded by an experienced captain and considered seaworthy. (niagaradivers.com)
- On November 14 or 15, 1891, while en route from Toledo to Buffalo with a cargo of wheat, George C. Finney encountered a severe storm—or gale—on Lake Erie. She foundered and sank during the gale. (niagaradivers.com)
- Crew: All seven crew members were lost at sea; no survivors (niagaradivers.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Disposition
- After foundering in the storm, George C. Finney sank intact in deep water. The wreck remains at approximately 100 ft depth. Her loss was total with no rescue. (niagaradivers.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, S.O.S. Niagara)
Located By & Documentation
- The wreck site was discovered by Niagara Divers Association in the early 2000s. A temporary mooring buoy was installed in June 2002; the location was kept confidential until further survey documentation was published. (niagaradivers.com)
- The site is now an advanced-level dive location, visited by technical divers. GPS coordinates confirm the identification. (Shipwreck World, S.O.S. Niagara)
Notmars & Advisories
- Shipwreck George C. Finney is not listed in official Notices to Mariners or hazard bulletins, but has since become a known dive site. None noted historically prior to wreck discovery.
Resources & Digital Links
- Niagara Divers Association survey summary and mooring record for George C. Finney (niagaradivers.com, niagaradivers.com)
- Wreck location and GPS metadata via ShipwreckWorld and Niagara S.O.S. platform (Shipwreck World)
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files index entry (F‑section) confirming storm loss, cargo, crew casualties, and location details (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Summary Table
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | George C. Finney |
| Official No. | 10545 |
| Built | 1866 at Oswego, NY by G. Goble |
| Vessel Type | Wooden schooner, originally three‑mast, later two‑mast, bulk freight |
| Dimensions | ~130 × 26 × 10 ft; ~301 gross / 286 net tons |
| Cargo | Wheat |
| Loss Date | November 15, 1891 (storm‑foundering) |
| Loss Location | ~16 mi south of Port Maitland, Ontario, Lake Erie |
| Crew | 7 lost at sea |
| Wreck Located | Yes — surveyed and moored; depth ~100 ft |
| Wreck Condition | Intact wreck lies upright on the bottom |
| Dive Difficulty | Advanced technical dive (~30 m / 100 ft) |
Conclusion
George C. Finney represents a tragic example of mid‑19th century Great Lakes grain schooners. Despite the vessel’s seaworthy reputation and experienced crew, she succumbed to one of Lake Erie’s late‑fall gales in November 1891. The wreck was located in the early 2000s and is now documented as an intact deep‑water site of significant maritime-historical interest.
Further Research & Diving Resources
- Survey video and dive logs by Niagara Divers Association and S.O.S. Niagara
- Technical diver trip reports via sites like Osprey Charters (ospreydive.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, niagaradivers.com, YouTube, S.O.S. Niagara, alcheminc.com)
- Historical newspaper archives (Buffalo‑Toledo press, Nov 1891) for survivor statements, cargo records, insurance claims
- U.S./Canadian marine registry files, casualty reports, and insurance documentation from late 1891