John L. Gross US 13478

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: J.L. Gross
• Type: Wooden schooner
• Year Built: 1857
• Builder: P.M. Brush, Vermillion, Ohio
• Dimensions: 132 ft (40.2 m) × 26 ft (7.9 m) × 10 ft (3.0 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 352 tons (old measurement); 247.89 gross tons after 1868 registry
• Depth at Wreck Site: 9 m / 30 ft
• Location: Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw Peninsula
• Coordinates: N 47° 27.590′, W 088° 09.310′
• Official Number: 13478
• Original Owners: C.L. Burton (1860), Burton & Pearce (1860), Chicago registry (1868)
• Number of Masts: 1

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Vessel Type

Wooden schooner designed for Great Lakes cargo traffic.

Description

Description

The J.L. Gross was a mid-sized wooden schooner launched in 1857 at Vermillion, Ohio, by P.M. Brush. Designed for Great Lakes cargo traffic, she measured 132 ft in length, with a beam of 26 ft and depth of 10 ft. She carried a single deck and was employed in bulk trades including coal, timber, and ore. Over her career, she underwent multiple rebuilds and enlargements, reflecting the heavy wear of two decades of continuous service.

History

History

• 1857 – Launched at Vermillion, OH.
• 1859 (Aug 16) – Collision with schooner Kosciusko at St. Clair Flats.
• 1860 – Owned by C.L. Burton, Vermillion; later Burton & Pearce, Vermillion.
• 1868 – Ownership transferred to Chicago; tonnage listed as 247.89 gross tons.
• 1869 – Sank in St. Mary’s River; raised, fitted with new mainmast and boom.
• 1872 – Ashore in Green Bay, WI.
• 1872–73 – Rebuilt and enlarged at Vermillion, OH.
• 1873 (Oct 30) – While inbound to the Copper Falls Mine with coal, struck a rock off Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw Peninsula. Beached and battered by heavy seas, declared a total loss.

Significant Incidents

Significant Incidents

• Collision with the schooner Kosciusko on August 16, 1859.
• Sank in St. Mary’s River in 1869, later raised.
• Ashore in Green Bay, WI in 1872.
• Struck a rock and beached at Eagle Harbor on October 30, 1873.

Final Disposition

Final Disposition

The J.L. Gross was driven ashore in heavy weather at Eagle Harbor, Michigan, on October 30, 1873. The vessel was intentionally beached after striking a rock but was broken apart by pounding seas. No lives were lost. Wreckage remains in 20–30 ft of water.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck lies in shallow water (20–30 ft) at Eagle Harbor, Michigan. Some timbers may remain buried under shifting sands and boulders. The site is accessible to divers but minimally documented by modern surveys.

Resources & Links

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Closing Summary

Divers visiting the wreck of the J.L. Gross can explore the remains of this historic wooden schooner, which met its fate in the turbulent waters of Lake Superior. Caution is advised due to the shallow reef structure and potential surge in heavy weather.