Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Kate Norton
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1863
- Builder: D. Edwards, Milan, Ohio
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Not recorded
- Location: Near Long Point, Ontario
- Coordinates: Estimated location off Long Point fan
- Official Number: None recorded in surviving documents
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type
Two-masted wooden schooner built in 1863.
Description
Description
The Kate Norton was a wooden schooner constructed by D. Edwards in Milan, Ohio. She was heavily loaded with gun stocks during her maiden voyage.
History
History
Built in 1863, the Kate Norton embarked on her maiden voyage from Huron, Ohio, bound for Lake Erie. Tragically, she sank during a gale on November 4, 1863, near Long Point, Ontario, with all hands lost.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- November 4, 1863: The Kate Norton foundered during a gale, likely due to capsizing or rapid water ingress from overloading.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
The wreck of the Kate Norton remains unlocated and unsurveyed, likely resting in moderate-depth water with scattered hull fragments and cargo debris.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
No Notices to Mariners or hazard buoys have been recorded for the site. The wreck is presumed to be in moderate-depth water, but its exact location is unknown.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”kate-norton-1863″ title=”References & Links”]
Closing Summary
The loss of the Kate Norton serves as a reminder of the maritime risks faced by vessels in the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Her story highlights the importance of understanding vessel stability and weather conditions.
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 & Vessel Details
- Name: Kate Norton
- Built: 1863 in Milan, Ohio, by shipbuilder D. Edwards (wooden schooner)
- Official Number: None recorded in surviving documents
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
Cargo & Voyage
- Cargo: Gun stocks (likely wooden stocks for firearms or agricultural implements) — heavily loaded
- Voyage: Appears to have been on her maiden or very early voyage from Huron, Ohio, bound for Lake Erie
- Crew: Entire complement was lost (“all hands”) — the exact number remains unrecorded (alcheminc.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Voyage & Loss
- Date of Loss: November 4, 1863
- Location: Near Long Point, Ontario, in Lake Erie (alcheminc.com)
- Cause: Foundered (sank) during a gale; likely capsizing or rapid water ingress due to overloading and storm conditions (alcheminc.com)
Crew & Casualties
- Tragically, all hands were lost — marking the end of the vessel’s first season of service, possibly her maiden voyage (alcheminc.com)
Wreck Site & Condition
- Estimated Location: Off Long Point fan, Lake Erie
- Wreck Status: Unlocated and unsurveyed. Likely resting in moderate-depth water with scattered hull fragments and cargo debris (gun stocks).
- Hazards: No Notices to Mariners or hazard buoys have been recorded.
Sources & Citations
- Erie–Ashtabula Shipwrecks Database: Records Kate Norton sank 11/4/1863 near Long Point with entire crew lost (alcheminc.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – N: Confirms build info, date, location, and total loss with no survivors (manitouislandsarchives.org).
Research Gaps & Suggested Next Steps
| Area | Suggested Action |
|---|---|
| Crew complement | Search 1863 newspaper archives (e.g., Cleveland Leader, Detroit Free Press) for crew lists or passenger records. |
| Overloading details | Investigate corrospondence or merchant logs in Huron, OH, regarding cargo load and manifest. |
| Weather conditions | Consult meteorological logbooks or shipping intelligence for gale details on November 4, 1863. |
| Wreck detection | Undertake side-scan sonar survey off Long Point to locate hull remains, debris field, or dense cargo wreckage. |
| Archival vetting | Access hardware manufacturer’s ledgers or arms stock shipment logs to better define the cargo and builder. |
Historical & Archaeological Significance
The Kate Norton represents a poignant and early example of Great Lakes maritime risk: a newly built vessel, heavily laden, foundering in a sudden autumn gale. The loss of her entire crew in her first season highlights issues of overloading, vessel stability, and Great Lakes weather hazards in the mid-19th century. Locating her remains could offer valuable insights into wooden schooner construction, cargo stowage practices, and maritime safety of the era.
kate-norton-1863 1863-11-04 13:19:00