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

• Vessel Name: Homer Warren (originally named Atlantic)
• Location: Near Sodus Point, Lake Ontario, New York, USA
• Depth: Exact depth not documented
• Coordinates: 43.337922, -77.187951 on Google Maps
• Date of Wreck: October 28, 1919

Vessel Type

Wooden steam-powered propeller vessel – converted lumber hooker by 1901, originally a passenger/freight steamer.

Description

The Homer Warren, first launched as the Atlantic in 1863 by Peck & Masters in Cleveland, Ohio, was built to transport passengers and freight across the Great Lakes. Measuring 176.5 feet (53.8 meters) long and weighing 656.26 tons gross, she represented a classic wooden lake steamer of her era.

In 1901, after decades of service and two serious fires, she was rebuilt at J. Davidson’s shipyard in Bay City, Michigan, renamed Homer Warren, and converted to a lumber hooker — a type specialized in timber hauling. Her dimensions were slightly increased to 180 feet (54.9 meters), but her gross tonnage was reduced to 447 tons.

History

As the Atlantic, the vessel ran routes between Chicago and Buffalo under the Union Transportation Company, and later operated under the Grummond Line on Lake Huron.

After being laid up and nearly lost, her 1901 rebuild gave her a new lease on life, serving the booming lumber industry. She was sold to Canadian interests around 1914 and continued to operate across the Great Lakes.

Final Voyage

On October 28, 1919, while transporting lumber, the Homer Warren was caught in a violent storm near Sodus Point, Lake Ontario. The aged vessel was unable to withstand the intense weather. Tragically, all nine crew members were lost. The cause was likely a combination of the storm’s intensity and the structural fatigue of the vessel.

Final Disposition

The Homer Warren sank in Lake Ontario, close to Sodus Point, near the coordinates 43°22’26.8″N, 77°11’13.9″W. No known recovery or detailed exploration has been conducted. The wreck lies largely undisturbed, likely in deep water with significant degradation.

Located By & Date Found

The wreck is known to exist near the reported coordinates but has not been publicly documented or surveyed in detail.

Notmars & Advisories

There are no specific NOTMARs for the Homer Warren wreck site. However, mariners in the area should exercise caution, especially during storm season.

Crew & Casualty Memorials

All nine crew aboard were lost, though individual names have not yet been confirmed in accessible sources. Further research into regional newspapers (Rochester, Oswego, Toronto) from late October–November 1919 is needed to identify crew lists and obituaries.

NOAA Shipwreck Record Card

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Great Lakes Ships Index
• NOAA Mariners Weather Log (April 2015)
• GreatLakesShips.org – Atlantic / Homer Warren

Conclusion

The Homer Warren represents the evolution of Great Lakes shipping — from luxurious passenger vessel to utilitarian lumber hauler. Her tragic end in 1919 underscores the ongoing hazards faced by Great Lakes sailors even into the 20th century. Though her wreck lies largely forgotten near Sodus Point, her story is part of the enduring maritime history of Lake Ontario.

Keywords Homer Warren, Atlantic, lumber hooker, Lake Ontario shipwreck, Sodus Point, Great Lakes maritime history, 1919 storm, wooden freighter, shipwreck rescue.