Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Grace Grummond
- Type: Iron-hulled schooner (formerly steam screw)
- Year Built: 1869
- Builder: Unknown yard, New York, NY
- Dimensions: Length 136.60 ft (41.6 m); Beam 21.80 ft (6.6 m); Depth of hold 9.00 ft (2.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 205.50 tons
- Location: Milwaukee Harbor, Milwaukee, WI
- Coordinates: N 43° 01.447' / W 087° 54.207'
- Official Number: 85552
- Original Owners: Recorded to Maxont S. (possibly Maxon & Sons)
- Number of Masts: 0 noted (indicates de-rigged at end of service)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Grace Grummond is classified as an iron-hulled schooner, which was originally built as a steam screw vessel. Over time, she was converted to an unpowered schooner barge, a common practice for aging vessels in the late 19th century.
Description
The Grace Grummond was constructed in 1869 and initially served as a steam screw vessel. Following her conversion, she operated primarily in bulk cargo trades, likely transporting coal, stone, or lumber between ports on Lake Michigan. By the late 1800s, she was relegated to low-value cargo or lay-up storage work.
History
The Grace Grummond began her service in 1869, completing her construction in New York and enrolling for Great Lakes service. Throughout the 1870s and 1880s, she was involved in various cargo trades. Her final enrollment was surrendered in 1897, marking her retirement and abandonment.
Significant Incidents
- 1897: The Grace Grummond was abandoned in Milwaukee Harbor.
- The hull was likely stripped of valuable ironwork and gear before being towed to a disposal site near the north breakwall.
- No casualties are recorded from her abandonment.
Final Disposition
After her abandonment, the Grace Grummond was likely scuttled along with other vessels in the harbor. Harbor dredging and shoreline modifications may have partially buried the wreck, and her remains may be fragmented and buried under sediment or rubble.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current coordinates of the wreck are N 43° 01.447′ / W 087° 54.207′. The estimated depth is 0–20 ft, but the wreck may be buried in sediment or riprap. Archaeological potential exists, with iron hull remains possibly surviving in a fragmented state.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”grace-grummond-us-85552″ title=”References & Links”]
The Grace Grummond serves as a significant example of the transitional era in Great Lakes shipping, illustrating the fate of early iron-hulled steamers as they were converted into unpowered vessels before being abandoned.
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