Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Mountain Maid
- Type: Wooden scow-schooner
- Year Built: 1852
- Builder: Fairport, Ohio
- Dimensions: Exact dimensions not specified in available records
- Registered Tonnage: 53 tons (approx. 48 metric tonnes)
- Location: Approximately 400 feet northwest of the Black River Lighthouse, near Lorain, Ohio
- Official Number: 16441
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Mountain Maid was a wooden scow-schooner, a type of flat-bottomed sailing vessel commonly used on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century. Scow-schooners were particularly suited for transporting heavy bulk cargoes such as stone, lumber, and coal in shallow waters and harbours.
Description
Built in 1852 in Fairport, Ohio, the Mountain Maid served as a utilitarian cargo vessel on Lake Erie. Her flat-bottomed design allowed for easy loading and unloading of heavy materials like limestone, which she was carrying at the time of her sinking. The vessel’s relatively small size and simple construction were typical of scow-schooners of that era, which were often used for short-haul trips between ports along the lake. (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
History
The Mountain Maid operated during a period of significant commercial activity on the Great Lakes, where vessels like hers played a crucial role in the transportation of raw materials essential for the region’s development. On August 3, 1877, while en route to Cleveland with a heavy load of limestone, the Mountain Maid encountered a storm and capsized approximately 400 feet northwest of the Black River Lighthouse near Lorain, Ohio. Fortunately, all crew members were rescued. The wreck was subsequently reported as an obstruction, indicating that it posed a hazard to navigation in the area. (alcheminc.com)
Significant Incidents
- August 3, 1877: The Mountain Maid capsized during a storm while carrying limestone.
- All crew members were rescued.
- The wreck was reported as an obstruction to navigation.
Final Disposition
After capsizing, the Mountain Maid sank and was reported as an obstruction to navigation. There is no record of salvage or removal, suggesting that the wreck may have remained in place, potentially posing a hazard to other vessels in the vicinity. (alcheminc.com)
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of current records, there is no publicly available information indicating that the wreck of the Mountain Maid has been located or surveyed.
Resources & Links
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The Mountain Maid serves as a representative example of the numerous small cargo vessels that operated on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. Her sinking highlights the challenges faced by mariners of the time, including unpredictable weather and the limitations of vessel design. While the wreck has not been located, it remains a part of the rich maritime history of Lake Erie.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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