Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Groton
- Type: Wooden two-masted schooner (coal freighter)
- Year Built: 1868
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length 136 ft (41.5 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Off Talbot, Ontario
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden Schooner – Built 1868, Lost November 11, 1897
Description
The Groton was a wooden two-masted schooner primarily used for transporting coal. It measured 136 feet in length and was built in 1868. The vessel was at anchor outside the harbor when it encountered a violent storm.
History
The Groton was engaged in coal transportation on Lake Erie. During its final voyage, it was anchored offshore, awaiting safe conditions to enter the harbor when a severe storm struck.
Significant Incidents
- Loss Circumstances: The Groton was anchored during a violent November storm. Waves fractured her hull, causing her to fill with water and eventually sink. Fortunately, all crew members were rescued without casualties.
Final Disposition
After the storm, the Groton was declared a total loss and presumably left submerged where it sank. There are no records of salvage or removal efforts.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Groton remains submerged in Lake Erie, with no known salvage operations conducted since its sinking.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”groton-1868″ title=”References & Links”]
The wreck of the Groton serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by wooden vessels during late-season storms on the Great Lakes, highlighting the importance of safe anchorage practices.
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.
Wooden Schooner – Built 1868, Lost November 11, 1897
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Groton
- Type: Wooden two-masted schooner (coal freighter)
- Length: 136 ft
- Built: 1868
- Final Voyage: At anchor outside harbor, awaiting safe conditions
- Date of Loss: November 11, 1897
- Cargo: Coal
- Location: Off Talbot, Ontario, Lake Erie
- Loss Classification: Total loss
- Casualties: None; all crew rescued successfully
(alcheminc.com, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
Circumstances of Loss
Groton was anchored offshore during a violent November storm. Waves repeatedly fractured her hull, causing it to “fill,” lose buoyancy, and eventually sink on site. In shallow waters outside the harbor, she settled and foundered completely, though without loss of life—a rare outcome during late-season storms on Lake Erie.
(alcheminc.com)
Final Disposition & Wreck Status
- Declared a total loss after the storm, and presumably left submerged where she sank.
- No further salvage or removal appears in the historical record.
(alcheminc.com)
Historical Significance
- Reflects the hazards of late-season anchorage, especially for laden wooden schooners awaiting entry into harbor.
- The intact rescue of Groton’s crew stands out amid the high fatality rates in many November Great Lakes wrecks.
Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Built | 1868, [shipyard unspecified] |
| Type | 136 ft wooden schooner transporting coal |
| Lost | Nov 11, 1897 – sank at anchor off Talbot, ON |
| Cause | Hull filled and sank in November gale |
| Cargo | Coal |
| Crew | All rescued—no casualties |
| Disposition | Sunk and abandoned; no salvage recorded |