Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Massilon
- Type: Wooden cargo schooner (possibly brig-rigged)
- Year Built: Circa 1857
- Builder: Unknown
- Dimensions: Unknown
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown
- Location: Likely Lake Erie en route from Kelley’s Island, OH to Chicago, IL
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Massilon was likely a wooden, brig- or schooner-rigged cargo vessel, typical of Great Lakes limestone carriers of the mid-19th century. Built circa 1857, she would have been constructed to Welland Canal dimensions to allow passage into Lake Ontario when required.
Description
The Massilon was likely a wooden, brig- or schooner-rigged cargo vessel, typical of Great Lakes limestone carriers of the mid-19th century. Built circa 1857, she would have been constructed to Welland Canal dimensions to allow passage into Lake Ontario when required.
History
The vessel primarily carried bulk cargoes such as limestone from quarrying centers like Kelley’s Island to growing industrial hubs including Chicago, IL. Like many contemporaries, she was unpowered and relied entirely on sail.
Significant Incidents
On 19 October 1876, bound from Kelley’s Island to Chicago with a heavy load of limestone, the Massilon reportedly sprang a leak. The incident likely stemmed from structural stress caused by overloading with dense cargo. Seasonal late-October weather on Lake Erie would have increased the risk. She foundered and was declared a total loss. No fatalities were reported in the surviving accounts.
Final Disposition
No salvage or recovery was recorded. The wreck’s precise location remains unknown but is presumed to lie along her intended route across western Lake Erie.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Not applicable—wreck location unknown.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”massilon-c1857″ title=”References & Links”]
The Massilon likely suffered structural failure under the strain of a dense limestone cargo, leading to flooding and foundering in Lake Erie. The absence of recorded casualties suggests an orderly abandonment. Further research in contemporary newspapers and customs records could clarify her specifications, ownership, and final position.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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