Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

John L. Gross US 13478

Explore the wreck of the J.L. Gross, a wooden schooner lost in 1873, located in shallow waters of Lake Superior near Eagle Harbor.

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

[shotline_reference_links slug=”john-l-gross-us-13478″ title=”References & Links”]

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.

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 Card (Site Style)

Name: J.L. Gross Other Names: None recorded Official Number: 13478 Registry: United States Vessel Type: Wooden schooner Builder: P.M. Brush, Vermillion, Ohio Year Built: 1857 Number of Decks: 1 Dimensions: 132 ft (40.2 m) × 26 ft (7.9 m) × 10 ft (3.0 m) Tonnage: 352 tons (old measurement); 247.89 gross tons after 1868 registry Hull Material: Wood Cargo on Final Voyage: Coal Date of Loss: 30 October 1873 Location: Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw Peninsula, Lake Superior Coordinates: N 47° 27.590′, W 088° 09.310′ (Google Maps link) Depth: 20–30 ft (6–9 m) Home Port: Vermillion, OH; later Chicago, IL Owners: C.L. Burton (1860), Burton & Pearce (1860), Chicago registry (1868) Crew: Not documented Casualties: None reported

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

  • 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.

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.

Located By & Date Found

The wreck site has been locally known since the time of loss (1873). Coordinates logged as 47°27.590′N, 88°09.310′W.

Notmars & Advisories

No current NOTMARs specific to this site. Divers should exercise caution due to shallow reef structure.

Dive Information

Access: Boat launch at Eagle Harbor Conditions: Good visibility in clear Lake Superior water; exposure to surge in heavy weather Depth Range: 20–30 ft (6–9 m) Emergency Contacts: USCG Sector Sault Ste. Marie Permits: Artifact removal prohibited under Michigan law Dive Support: Local charters and facilities operate out of Eagle Harbor and Copper Harbor

Crew & Casualty Memorials

No casualties reported. No known crew memorials specific to this wreck.

Documented Statements & Extracts

“The schooner J.L. Gross, bound for the Copper Falls Mine with coal, struck a rock and was beached at Eagle Harbor. Heavy seas soon broke her up.” — Great Lakes casualty reports, October 1873.

Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails

Official Number: 13478. Enrolled at Vermillion, Ohio (1857); later at Chicago, Illinois (1868). Tonnage listed variously at 352 tons (old measurement) and 247.89 gross tons (new system). Insurance records not yet located.

Site Documentation & Imaging

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

References

  1. U.S. Official Register of Shipping, No. 13478.
  2. Great Lakes casualty lists, October 1873.
  3. Chronicling America newspaper archives, Vermillion & Chicago entries.

NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card

Wreck Name: J.L. Gross Other Names: None Official Number: 13478 Coordinates: N 47° 27.590′, W 088° 09.310′ (Google Maps link) Depth: 20–30 ft (6–9 m) Location Description: Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw Peninsula, Lake Superior Vessel Type: Wooden schooner Material: Wood Dimensions: 132 × 26 × 10 ft; 352 tons (old system) Condition: Wrecked and pounded to pieces; shallow remains Cause of Loss: Struck rock, beached, broken up by storm Discovery Date: 1873 (immediately known) Discovered By: N/A Method: Grounding and beaching Legal Notes: Registry struck post-loss; protected under Michigan Antiquities Act Hazards: Submerged timbers in shallow reef Permits Required: Yes, for survey or artifact removal
john-l-gross-us-13478 1873-10-30 18:38:00