Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

J.G. Mcgrath

Explore the wreck of the J.G. McGrath, a wooden schooner lost in 1878, located near Long Point in Lake Erie. A dive into maritime history awaits.

GPS: 42.667933, -79.396333

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: J.G. McGrath
  • Type: Schooner
  • Year Built: 1870
  • Builder: Louis Shickluna, St. Catharines, Ontario
  • Dimensions: Length: 104 ft (31.7 m); Beam: 25.5 ft (7.8 m); Depth of hold: 10.5 ft (3.2 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 217 tons
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 27 m / 90 ft
  • Location: Lake Erie, near Long Point, approximately 20 miles off the coast
  • Coordinates: N 42° 40.076′, W 79° 23.78′
  • Original Owners: Louis Shickluna (1870-1874), Glenn (1874-1877), H.C. Dunlop (1877)

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The J.G. McGrath was a single-deck wooden schooner designed for transporting bulk cargo on the Great Lakes.

Description

The J.G. McGrath was a single-deck wooden schooner designed for transporting bulk cargo on the Great Lakes.

  • Dimensions (as built):
    • Length: 104 feet (31.7 meters)
    • Beam: 25.5 feet (7.8 meters)
    • Depth: 10.5 feet (3.2 meters)
  • Dimensions (updated 1877):
    • Length: 105 feet (32 meters)
    • Beam: 22.5 feet (6.9 meters)
    • Depth: 10.2 feet (3.1 meters)
  • Gross Tonnage: 217 tons
  • Capacity: 13,000 bushels

History

Builder: Louis Shickluna, a renowned shipbuilder, constructed the vessel in 1870 in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Significant Incidents

Final Voyage and Tragedy:

Final Disposition

Wreck Depth: 150 feet (46 meters).

The schooner remains submerged near Long Point in Lake Erie, preserving its historical significance and serving as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by mariners on the Great Lakes.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck serves as an underwater time capsule for maritime archaeologists and divers interested in exploring the legacy of Great Lakes shipping. Divers are encouraged to practice no-touch documentation methods and to leave the site better than they found it.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”j-g-mcgrath” title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]

The J.G. McGrath was a product of one of the most prolific shipbuilders of the 19th century and served its purpose diligently until its tragic loss in 1878. Its story is a testament to the resilience of the sailors who braved the Great Lakes, and its wreckage remains a poignant marker of the region’s maritime history.

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.

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

  • Name: J.G. McGrath
  • Type: Schooner
  • Location: Lake Erie, near Long Point, approximately 20 miles off the coast
  • Coordinates: N 42° 40.076′, W 79° 23.78′
  • Depth: 90 feet (27 meters)
  • Year Built: 1870
  • Builder: Louis Shickluna, St. Catharines, Ontario
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Registration: St. Catharines, Ontario

VESSEL DESCRIPTION

The J.G. McGrath was a single-deck wooden schooner designed for transporting bulk cargo on the Great Lakes.

  • Dimensions (as built):
    • Length: 104 feet (31.7 meters)
    • Beam: 25.5 feet (7.8 meters)
    • Depth: 10.5 feet (3.2 meters)
  • Dimensions (updated 1877):
    • Length: 105 feet (32 meters)
    • Beam: 22.5 feet (6.9 meters)
    • Depth: 10.2 feet (3.1 meters)
  • Gross Tonnage: 217 tons
  • Capacity: 13,000 bushels

HISTORY

  • • Builder: Louis Shickluna, a renowned shipbuilder, constructed the vessel in 1870 in St. Catharines, Ontario.
  • • Launch: The schooner was launched on April 22, 1870, and registered in St. Catharines five days later.
  • • Original Name: It may have been named Taliafarro before being renamed J.G. McGrath.

Ownership Timeline

Final Voyage and Tragedy

  • Date of Sinking: October 28, 1878.
  • Route: From Point au Pelee, Ontario, to St. Catharines.
  • Cargo: Stone blocks.
  • Incident: The schooner encountered a severe gale near Long Point, Lake Erie, approximately 20 miles offshore, and foundered.

Registry Closure

  • Date: November 27, 1879.
  • The schooner’s registry was officially closed following its loss.

FINAL DISPOSITION

  • Wreck Depth: 150 feet (46 meters).
  • The schooner remains submerged near Long Point in Lake Erie, preserving its historical significance and serving as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by mariners on the Great Lakes.

SIGNIFICANCE IN MARITIME HISTORY

The J.G. McGrath represents a critical era of maritime commerce on the Great Lakes, where schooners like it transported essential goods between ports. Its builder, Louis Shickluna, was known for producing durable and reliable vessels. The sinking of the schooner, carrying stone blocks, highlights the challenges faced by sailors navigating unpredictable weather conditions.

The wreck serves as an underwater time capsule for maritime archaeologists and divers interested in exploring the legacy of Great Lakes shipping.

TAGS #JGMcGrath #Schooner #LakeErie #Shipwreck #LouisShickluna #GreatLakesMaritimeHistory #LongPointWrecks

RESOURCES & LINKS

  • Maritime History of the Great Lakes Database
  • Merchant Vessel Lists (1870–1879)
  • Local Historical Societies in St. Catharines and Goderich

CONCLUSION

The J.G. McGrath was a product of one of the most prolific shipbuilders of the 19th century and served its purpose diligently until its tragic loss in 1878. Its story is a testament to the resilience of the sailors who braved the Great Lakes, and its wreckage remains a poignant marker of the region’s maritime history.