Grace Whitney – Lake Erie Schooner Shipwreck (1910)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Grace Whitney
• Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
• Year Built: 1866
• Builder: R. Calkins
• Dimensions: 142 ft (43.3 m) long × 26 ft beam × 11.5 ft depth
• Registered Tonnage: 289 gross
• Depth at Wreck Site: 9 m / 30 ft
• Location: Approximately 3 miles east of Bar Point light on Lake Erie
• Official Number: 10239
• Original Owners: D. Whitney, Jr.
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Grace Whitney is classified as a two-masted wooden schooner, a common vessel type for cargo transport during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Description

Constructed in 1866 in Gibraltar, Michigan, the Grace Whitney was built by R. Calkins and originally owned by D. Whitney, Jr. The vessel measured 142 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, and had a depth of 11.5 feet. It had a registered tonnage of 289 gross and a cargo capacity of approximately 20,000 bushels.

History

The operational history of the Grace Whitney includes several key events: it was towed to Oswego, NY for rigging in late 1866, operated on the Ogdensburg–Toledo run in 1867, and was owned by D. Whitney Jr. from 1868 to 1871. The vessel underwent repairs in 1875 and was documented as a barge under tow in 1879. From 1880 to 1890, it was frequently towed by various tugs, carrying lumber, coal, and ore. A significant rebuild occurred in 1882. In 1903, the vessel stranded near Fort Gratiot, MI, but was refloated.

Significant Incidents

• 30 July 1910: While under tow of the tug Maine, the Grace Whitney was rammed amidships by the steel bulker Ogdensburg near Bar Point, Lake Erie. The vessel sank, resulting in two crew fatalities.

Final Disposition

• Date of Loss: 30 July 1910
• Location: Approximately 3 miles east of Bar Point light on Lake Erie, near the mouth of Detroit River
• Cause: Collision—rammed amidships by steel bulker Ogdensburg while in tow
• Cargo: Coal
• Casualties: 2 crew lost during sinking
• Wreck Condition: Sank in approximately 30 feet of water; vessel lost on-site.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the Grace Whitney lies in approximately 30 feet (~9 meters) of water near Bar Point. The shallow depth suggests good access for technical shore dives, but collision damage could produce hazards. No modern survey or dive logs have been located; side-scan sonar may confirm current site conditions.

Resources & Links

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The Grace Whitney was a large wooden schooner that sank off Bar Point, Lake Erie, on 30 July 1910 after being rammed by the steel bulker Ogdensburg. The accident resulted in two crew deaths. The wreck lies in shallow water, offering strong potential for dive documentation and archaeological survey.