Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Grace Grummond US 85552

Explore the remains of the Grace Grummond, an iron-hulled schooner abandoned in Milwaukee Harbor, representing a transitional era in Great Lakes shipping.

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.

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.

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Grace Grummond
  • Former Names: None formally recorded (likely de‑engined from prior steam service)
  • Official Number / Registry: 85552
  • Year Built: 1869
  • Builder: Unknown yard, New York, NY
  • Vessel Type: Iron‑hulled schooner (formerly steam screw)
  • Rig: Schooner
  • Hull Material: Iron
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 136.60 ft (41.6 m)
    • Beam: 21.80 ft (6.6 m)
    • Depth of Hold: 9.00 ft (2.7 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 205.50 tons
  • Propulsion: Sail (steam machinery removed prior to abandonment)
  • Masts: 0 noted (indicates de‑rigged at end of service)
  • Home Port: Chicago, Illinois
  • Primary Owner(s): Recorded to Maxont S. (possibly Maxon & Sons – Great Lakes carrier, needs archival confirmation)

Location of Loss:

  • Body of Water: Lake Michigan, Milwaukee Harbor
  • County: Milwaukee, WI
  • Nearest City: Milwaukee, WI
  • Coordinates: N 43° 01.447′ / W 087° 54.207′
  • Depth: 0–20 ft (shallow abandonment site along harbor breakwall)

Service History

The Grace Grummond began service as a U.S. steam screw vessel in 1869. At some point, she was stripped of her engine and converted to an unpowered schooner barge, a common fate for aging iron screw vessels during the 1870s–1880s.

Key points:

  • 1869: Completed at New York and enrolled for Great Lakes service.
  • 1870s–1880s: Operated in bulk cargo trades, likely carrying coal, stone, or lumber between Lake Michigan ports.
  • Late Career: Relegated to low‑value cargo or lay‑up storage work.

Her final enrollment was surrendered in 1897, indicating retirement and abandonment.

Final Voyage & Disposition

  • 1897: Grace Grummond was abandoned in Milwaukee Harbor.
  • The hull was likely stripped of all valuable ironwork and gear, then towed to the harbor disposal site near the north breakwall, an area where several small wooden tugs (Golden and Sioux) and obsolete vessels were scuttled.
  • No casualties are recorded.
  • Harbor dredging and shoreline modifications may have partially buried the wreck.

Located By & Condition

  • Current Coordinates: N 43° 01.447′ / W 087° 54.207′ (Milwaukee Harbor, west of the north breakwall)
  • Depth: Estimated 0–20 ft (may be buried in sediment or riprap)
  • Archaeological Potential:
    • Iron hull remains may survive in fragmented form.
    • Likely buried under harbor fill or rubble due to 20th‑century breakwall work.

Research Notes

  • Archival verification needed for:
    • Exact prior steam vessel name/ID before conversion to schooner.
    • Ownership history: “Maxont S.” likely mis‑transcribed; should check U.S. Customs enrollment records (Chicago) and HCGL vessel index.
  • Historic harbor charts (1890–1910) and USACE disposal maps may confirm her scuttling footprint.

Resources & References

Historical Context

The Grace Grummond is representative of the transitional era in Great Lakes shipping, when early iron‑hulled steamers were often stripped and converted into sailing or unpowered barges before final scuttling.

Her abandonment in 1897 placed her among a cluster of harbor hulks that were dismantled and sunk rather than commercially scrapped, a cost‑saving method commonly used in Milwaukee at the time.

grace-grummond-us-85552 1897-07-29 23:06:00