Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Grace Murray
- Type: Wood-hulled, two-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1856
- Builder: Black River, Ohio
- Dimensions: 128 × 26 × 11 ft; gross 254 GRT, net 242 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 254 GRT
- Location: Detroit River, near Ecorse, MI
- Official Number: 10222
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Grace Murray was a wooden-hulled, two-masted schooner, built in 1856. She was primarily used for cargo transport in the Detroit River corridor.
Description
The vessel measured 128 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, and had a depth of 11 feet. It had a gross registered tonnage of 254 and a net registered tonnage of 242.
History
Grace Murray operated for 45 years, which is considered an unusually long service life for a wooden cargo vessel. Throughout her career, she likely transported various cargoes, including grain and general merchandise. Details regarding her original ownership and early career remain undocumented, but her longevity suggests she underwent periodic maintenance and possible refits.
Significant Incidents
- On May 12, 1901, the schooner caught fire, likely while moored or in the process of loading. No specific cargo is noted.
- The fire spread rapidly, destroying the vessel down to the waterline.
- Official registry lists her as “fire, none lost,” confirming no loss of life.
Final Disposition
The vessel was destroyed by fire at Ecorse, Michigan, on the Detroit River, resulting in a total loss.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The fire-degraded hull likely sank in shallow waters or collapsed alongside the riverbank. Potential remains include charred timbers, iron fastenings, and machinery fragments, if any.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”grace-murray-us-10222″ title=”References & Links”]
The Grace Murray serves as a significant example of mid-19th-century wooden schooner longevity and highlights the persistent risk of onboard fire in wooden vessels moored in populated waterways.
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
- Name: Grace Murray
- Official Number: 10222
- Build: 1856, Black River, Ohio
- Type: Wood-hulled, two-masted schooner
- Dimensions: 128 × 26 × 11 ft; gross 254 GRT, net 242 NRT (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Alamy)
- Final Event: Destroyed by fire at Ecorse, Michigan — on the Detroit River — on May 12, 1901; suffered total loss
- Cargo: Not specified
- Casualties: None reported (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Last Known Operation Area: Detroit River, near Ecorse, MI
Incident & Final Disposition
- On May 12, 1901, the schooner caught fire, likely while moored or in the process of loading — no specific cargo is noted.
- The fire spread rapidly, destroying the vessel down to the waterline.
- Official registry lists her as “fire, none lost,” confirming no loss of life (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Vessel History & Specifications
- A mid-19th-century schooner operating in the Detroit River corridor for 45 years—an unusually long service life for a wooden cargo vessel.
- Likely carried a variety of cargoes such as grain or general merchandise during her later career.
- Original ownership and early career details are undocumented; her survival into the 20th century suggests periodic maintenance and possible refits.
Archival & Research Gaps
- Construction Records: Yard and engineer specifications — check U.S. Customs enrollment archives (Buffalo or Detroit district) circa 1856
- Ownership Timeline: Identify registry changes and ownership shifts over her 45-year career
- Fire Incident Report: Look into Detroit or Ecorse newspapers (Detroit Free Press, Ecorse Press) around May 1901 for fire cause, vessel status, or potential investigations
- Insurance Records: A vessel of her age and size likely carried marine insurance; Detroit insurance underwriters may hold claims records
- Cargo and Operations: Determine her final vessel service type—whether harbor or river towing, package freight, or lighter transport
Wreck & Archaeological Potential
- Site Characteristics: Fire-degraded hull likely sank in shallow waters or collapsed alongside the riverbank. Potential remains include charred timbers, iron fastenings, and machinery fragments (if any).
- Survey Planning:
- Retrieve historical charts or river pilot logs to estimate fire and sinking position
- Use water-side walking surveys and magnetometer scans in the Detroit–Ecorse river area
- Coordinate dive or ROV exploration to visually inspect charred remnants
Significance
- Represents mid-19th-century wooden schooner longevity, with a service span into the early 20th century
- Highlights persistent risk of onboard fi re in wooden vessels moored in populated waterways
- Potentially offers riverine archaeological evidence—especially structural damage from older vessels in inland navigation contexts
Recommended Next Steps
- Archive Requests: Submit for customs enrollment files and vessel registry history
- Newspaper Research: Search Detroit Free Press, Ecorse Press, and similar publications for fire incident coverage
- Insurance Query: Investigate marine underwriter records in Detroit for loss compensation files
- Field Recon & Site Survey: Plan coordination with dive or riverfront archaeological records experts in the Detroit–Ecorse vicinity