Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: H.S. Walbridge
- Type: Schooner-barge
- Year Built: 1862
- Builder: Edward’s shipyard, Milan, Ohio
- Dimensions: 125 ft × 25 ft × 11 ft; 215 GRT / 204 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 215 GRT / 204 NRT
- Location: Approximately 2 miles west of Port Colborne, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 11280
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden schooner-barge, operated under sail or tow.
Description
The H.S. Walbridge was a wooden schooner-barge built in 1862, measuring 125 feet in length, 25 feet in beam, and 11 feet in depth. It had a registered tonnage of 215 gross tons and 204 net tons.
History
The H.S. Walbridge was constructed at Edward’s shipyard in Milan, Ohio. It served for over 30 years before its loss in 1896.
Significant Incidents
- Date: July 16, 1896
- Voyage: In ballast, outward bound from St. Clair, Michigan
- Location: Grounded on a reef approximately 2 miles west of Port Colborne, Lake Erie, near Long Point
- Weather: Storm conditions over Lake Erie, likely tied to southwest gales
- Incident: Struck reef, went ashore, and was abandoned on-site due to structural damage
- Casualties: None reported; crew removed safely
Final Disposition
The H.S. Walbridge was declared a constructive total loss. No salvage or recovery was attempted after grounding. The wreck disintegrated during an autumn storm and drifted ashore.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The remains of the H.S. Walbridge were exposed to environmental forces until early November 1896, when a storm broke up the hull. Pieces of wreckage, including hull fragments, washed ashore near Sugar Loaf Beach.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”h-s-walbridge-us-11280″ title=”References & Links”]
The H.S. Walbridge, a veteran wooden barge, struck a reef in a Lake Erie storm on July 16, 1896, and was abandoned ashore near Port Colborne. The hull gradually succumbed to natural forces and broke apart through fall storms, with debris ending up on local shores. No loss of life occurred. While she remains unlocated underwater, her debris field and documented grounding site could be investigated further through archival research and coastal surveys.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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