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)

Description

The Laura Grace was a 76-foot wooden steam-powered tug built at the Collingwood shipyard by Robert J. Morrill in 1901, typical of early Great Lakes steam tugs. (Deep World)

History

Registered in Port Arthur (registry No. 107171), the tug, under Lake Superior Tug Co., departed Kingston bound for Port Dalhousie when it was lost in a winter storm off Greece, NY on December 6, 1918. (Deep World; ShipwreckWorld)

Contemporary reports note Captain William Murphy was lost, while nine crew members escaped via lifeboat, assisted by cook Margaret Switzer. (ShipwreckWorld)

Final Dispositions

The tug rests in shallow water near Long Pond Road in Greece, NY. Portions of the hull remain accessible to divers thanks to its proximity to shore. (Deep World; ShipwreckWorld)

Located By & Date Found

Salvage efforts began mid-1919, with press coverage in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Divers report the wreck was located at ~17 ft depth near the Genesee River mouth. (Deep World)

A Reddit commenter shared: “It sank in 15′ of water and that boiler tank is only a few feet below the surface. There’s a photo of some divers standing on it in 1962.” (Reddit)

Notmars & Advisories

While not charted as a hazard, the wreck is frequently mentioned in local diving and maritime circles for its shallow depth and visibility. (Democrat & Chronicle via 13 Wham)

Dive Information

Access: Shore from Long Pond Road, Greece, NY.
Depth: ~11 ft (3.4 m).
Conditions: Visibility varies; shallow, with protruding wreck parts just under the surface. (Reddit; 13 Wham)
Permits: Presumed recreational access; check local regulations.
Notes: Beware of overhead hazards; a diver in 1962 reportedly stood on the boiler section—a remarkable but risky scenario.

Directions from I‑390 to Shore Dive Site

• Starting Point: I‑390 Exit 17 (Dewey Avenue), Greece, NY
• Exit I‑390 at Exit 17 onto Dewey Avenue East.
• Follow Dewey Avenue approximately 1 mile east toward the shore.
• Turn left onto Long Pond Road, just before the intersection with Ridgeway Avenue.
• Continue north on Long Pond Road for about 0.8 mile until you reach the lakeshore.
• Park safely near the end of Long Pond Road—this is the most accessible entry point to the wreck site.
• The wreck lies just offshore—approximately 15 ft (4.6 m) deep—visible a few feet below the surface near Grand View Beach.

Crew & Casualty Memorials

• Captain William Murphy: Presumed lost.
• Nine crew members survived with the assistance of Margaret Switzer, the cook. (ShipwreckWorld)
• Further memorial or genealogical data may be traced via local newspapers or archival records.

Documented Statements & Extracts

“Except for the Captain William Murphy, nine crew members got on their lifeboat and headed for shore just off Grand View Beach on Lake Ontario … All nine eventually got to shore with the help of ship cook, Margaret Switzer.” (ShipwreckWorld)

Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails

Registry No. 107171, Port Arthur, Ontario — Deep World
Salvage and insurance documents may be located in the Democrat & Chronicle archives from 1919 (accessible via Newspapers.com or local libraries).

Site Documentation & Imaging

• Drone imagery in 2021 captured portions of the wreck in clear conditions (13 Wham).
• Diver-submitted pictures and reports continue to surface among hobbyist communities.

Image Gallery

Video submitted by Aaron Newman

Resources & Links

• Deep World – Laura Grace profile
• ShipwreckWorld – Map & historical notes
• Democrat & Chronicle article via 13 Wham
• Reddit – diver observations

References

• Deep World – Technical specs, coordinates, loss summary (link)
• ShipwreckWorld – Voyage details, crew survival, GPS position (link)
• Reddit – Diver recollections and depth hazards (link)
• Democrat & Chronicle / 13 Wham – Drone photos, modern visibility (link)

NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card