Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Grace Amelia (also known as Amelia Grace)
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1836
- Builder: W. S. Reafield
- Dimensions: Length 60 ft (18.3 m); Beam 20 ft; Depth 5 ft
- Registered Tonnage: ~45 old-style tons
- Location: Lake Erie (exact site unreported)
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Grace Amelia is classified as a two-masted wooden schooner, a common vessel type for coastal cargo transport during the early 19th century.
Description
Built in 1836 by W. S. Reafield in Sandusky, Ohio, the Grace Amelia featured a wooden hull and one deck. It was primarily used for coastal cargo, likely transporting lumber or general merchandise.
History
The operational history of the Grace Amelia includes enrollment at Portland, NY in 1836, followed by re-enrollment at Detroit, MI in 1842. The vessel suffered damage in 1846 when it lost its bowsprit and flying jib boom during an incident in Cleveland, but was repaired. The final wreck occurred in 1851 during a storm on Lake Erie, leading to its capsizing and subsequent destruction.
Significant Incidents
- 1836: Enrolled at Portland, NY (Dunkirk).
- 1842: Re-enrolled at Detroit, MI.
- 1846 (Sept 25): Damaged at Cleveland—lost bowsprit and flying jib boom; repaired.
- 1851: Final wreck during storm on Lake Erie; capsized and drifted ashore.
Final Disposition
The Grace Amelia was lost in 1851, overwhelmed by storm conditions that caused it to capsize. The vessel drifted ashore and was destroyed by wave action. No casualties were reported, as the crew likely evacuated early or were rescued.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The exact location of the wreck is unknown, but it is presumed that the remains have been destroyed by surf and decay over time. Modern surveys have not located the wreck.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”grace-amelia-amelia-grace-1836″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Grace Amelia highlights the risks faced by early Great Lakes navigation and the vulnerability of small cargo schooners to severe weather conditions.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Vessel Name: Grace Amelia (also known as Amelia Grace)
- Year Built: 1836
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Final Disposition: Wrecked in 1851 (no specific date)
- Location: Lake Erie (exact site unreported)
- Cause of Loss: Storm—waterlogged and capsized, later washed ashore and broken apart
- Casualties: None recorded
Vessel Type & Description
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Builder: W. S. Reafield
- Build Location: Sandusky, Ohio
- Configuration: 1 deck, wooden hull
- Dimensions: Length 60 ft; Beam 20 ft; Depth 5 ft; ~45 old-style tons
- Use: Coastal cargo—likely lumber or general merchandise
Operational History
- 1836: Enrolled at Portland, NY (Dunkirk)
- 1842: Re-enrolled at Detroit, MI
- 1846 (Sept 25): Damaged at Cleveland—lost bowsprit and flying jib boom; repaired
- 1851: Final wreck during storm on Lake Erie. The schooner capsized and took on water, drifting ashore and breaking apart. No lives were lost (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, chqgov.com)
Final Disposition
- Date of Loss: 1851 (exact date not documented)
- Event Details: Overwhelmed by storm conditions—shifted cargo or flooded, causing capsize. Left waterlogged, the vessel drifted ashore and was destroyed by wave action.
- Casualties: None noted; crew likely evacuated early or were rescued
Wreck Location & Discovery
- Location: Somewhere in Lake Erie near the shoreline
- Modern Surveys: Not located; presumed remains destroyed by surf and decay over time
Sources & Archival Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (Alchem Inc.) record: “She waterlogged and capsized, then drifted ashore, where she was pounded to a total wreck. Value: $1,200.” (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Enrollment Records: Dunkirk (NY), Detroit (MI)
- 1846 Repair Note: Cleveland harbor incident documentation
Historical Significance
The Grace Amelia typifies early post-1830s Great Lakes schooners—small, versatile, but fragile in open-water storms. Her loss reflects the high risk of early lake navigation and the common fate of modest cargo schooners during autumn passage.
Keywords & Categories
- Region: Lake Erie
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner
- Cause of Loss: Storm-induced capsize and wreck
- Material: Wood
- Period: 1836–1851
- Dive Status: Not located or surveyed
- Cargo: Possibly lumber/general freight
- Casualty Status: None reported