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:

• Vessel Name: Jane Bell
• Type: Bark (originally a barkentine, later re-rigged as a schooner)
• Built: 1862 by Campbell & Owen, Detroit, Michigan
• Material: Wooden construction
• Dimensions:
  • Length: 141 feet (43 meters)
  • Beam: 28.4 feet (8.7 meters)
  • Depth: 12.4 feet (3.8 meters)
• Tonnage: 447 tons (old measurement style)
• Final Resting Place: Off the coast of Geneva, Ohio, Lake Erie
• Condition: Wrecked in a storm on September 7, 1880
• Accessibility: The exact location and condition of the wreck are unknown due to the severe wrecking event and passage of time.

Vessel Type Description:

The Jane Bell was a three-masted bark, initially constructed as a barkentine, with the foremast square-rigged and the remaining masts fore-and-aft rigged. It was later re-rigged as a schooner, reflecting changes in operational needs or owner preferences. This rigging transition allowed for greater maneuverability and efficiency in Great Lakes trade, which demanded the transport of heavy cargo like iron ore. At 141 feet in length, the Jane Bell was a sizable vessel for its time, capable of handling substantial loads.

History:

Constructed in 1862, the Jane Bell was a product of the bustling shipbuilding industry in Detroit, Michigan, during a period of significant maritime activity on the Great Lakes. Owned initially by Duncan Stewart of Detroit, the vessel later passed to J.L. Hurd & Co. and eventually to P.J. Ralph and Grummond. These changes in ownership illustrate the vessel’s utility and value in the regional shipping economy.

Notable Incidents:

October 1876: Ran aground at Plum Island, near Death’s Door, Wisconsin, a dangerous passage notorious for shipwrecks. The vessel sustained significant damage but was repaired and returned to service.

Final Voyage:

On September 7, 1880, while en route from Escanaba, Michigan, to Ashtabula, Ohio, with a cargo of iron ore, the Jane Bell encountered a violent storm off Geneva, Ohio. The storm drove the ship ashore, rendering it a wreck.

The crew abandoned the vessel the following day in a yawl (a small lifeboat). Tragically, the yawl capsized in the surf, resulting in the deaths of two crew members.

Final Disposition:

The Jane Bell was a total loss following the storm. Despite confusion in some historical accounts conflating its wreck with that of the Jennibel, records confirm the Jane Bell’s demise off Geneva, Ohio, in 1880. The vessel’s remains have not been formally located or explored.

NOTMARs & Advisories:

No active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) are related to the Jane Bell wreck site. Its location remains uncertain, and it does not pose a navigational hazard today.

Located By & Date:

The wreck site was reported near Geneva, Ohio, shortly after the storm in 1880, but its precise location and condition remain unknown.

Resources & Links:

• Great Lakes Ships Database
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Cleveland Herald, September 8, 1880: Coverage of the storm and the wreck.
• Great Lakes Maritime Collection: Potential archival images or sketches of the vessel.

Conclusion:

The Jane Bell’s loss exemplifies the perilous nature of Great Lakes navigation in the 19th century. The vessel’s nearly 20-year service underscores its importance in the transport of vital industrial cargoes like iron ore. Its tragic end, including the loss of two crew members, remains a poignant reminder of the human cost of maritime commerce. The wreck’s location remains an unresolved mystery, preserving the ship’s story as a symbol of courage and resilience amid the dangers of Great Lakes shipping.

 

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