Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Nellie Theresa
- Type: Wooden Schooner
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Big Sandy Bay, Lake Ontario, New York
- Coordinates: 43°45'N, 76°12'W
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Nellie Theresa was a wooden schooner engaged in Great Lakes trade, likely carrying mixed or bulk cargo on the early season run when lost. Typical of the period, such schooners ranged between 80–130 feet, two- or three-masted, with shallow hulls designed for inland ports.
Given her total loss in April, she may have been sailing light (in ballast) on her first trip of the season, as was common with schooners in early spring shipping.
Description
On April 10 (year to be confirmed), the Nellie Theresa was totally wrecked at Big Sandy, a hazardous stretch of shoreline between Stony Point and Sandy Pond, on the eastern Lake Ontario coast of New York State.
- Likely grounded during a spring gale or squall
- Entire crew was saved, suggesting the wreck occurred close enough to shore or during daylight for rescue
- No record of salvage or cargo recovery
- “Totally wrecked” implies loss of vessel structure or severe breakup onshore
The region was well known for sudden shoaling, sandbars, and shifting currents, especially hazardous in early spring with cold water, fog, and high winds.
History
The Nellie Theresa was engaged in trade on the Great Lakes and was likely carrying a mixed or bulk cargo when she was lost. The wreck occurred during a time when conditions were particularly treacherous due to seasonal weather patterns.
Significant Incidents
- Grounded during a spring gale or squall on April 10, 1882.
- All crew members survived the incident.
- No records of salvage or recovery efforts for the cargo.
- Wreckage likely scattered along the shoreline or buried in sandbars.
Final Disposition
- Total loss by grounding or wave destruction.
- Crew: Survived.
- Cargo: Unknown or not recovered.
- Wreckage: Possibly buried under Big Sandy Bay’s sand shifts or scattered along adjacent beachline.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- Site has not been surveyed; no modern divers or archaeologists have confirmed visible wreckage.
- High likelihood that wreck remains, if any, are now submerged, scattered, or buried under littoral drift.
- May be eligible for listing under “lost, unconfirmed wrecks – shoreline remains possible.”
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”nellie-theresa” title=”References & Links”]
The Nellie Theresa joins the ranks of shore wrecks along Lake Ontario’s eastern beaches, claimed by early-season storms. Like many small schooners of the period, her memory survives primarily through terse newspaper entries. Until evidence surfaces (panels, iron fasteners, ballast piles), she will remain a candidate for field confirmation by beachcombers, sonar, or storm-induced exposure.
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.
SHIPWRECK REPORT – NELLIE THERESA
IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
- Vessel Name: Nellie Theresa
- Type: Wooden Schooner
- Date of Loss: April 10 1882
- Location: Big Sandy Bay, Lake Ontario, New York
- Coordinates (approximate): 43°45′N, 76°12′W
- Depth: Shore wreck (likely shallow, scattered remains)
- Crew: All saved
- Discovered: Contemporary account; no recovery efforts noted
- Current Condition: Unknown; presumed scattered along shoreline or buried in sandbars
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The Nellie Theresa was a wooden schooner engaged in Great Lakes trade, likely carrying mixed or bulk cargo on the early season run when lost. Typical of the period, such schooners ranged between 80–130 feet, two- or three-masted, with shallow hulls designed for inland ports.
Given her total loss in April, she may have been sailing light (in ballast) on her first trip of the season, as was common with schooners in early spring shipping.
HISTORY & INCIDENT SUMMARY
On April 10 (year to be confirmed), the Nellie Theresa was totally wrecked at Big Sandy, a hazardous stretch of shoreline between Stony Point and Sandy Pond, on the eastern Lake Ontario coast of New York State.
- Likely grounded during a spring gale or squall
- Entire crew was saved, suggesting the wreck occurred close enough to shore or during daylight for rescue
- No record of salvage or cargo recovery
- “Totally wrecked” implies loss of vessel structure or severe breakup onshore
The region was well known for sudden shoaling, sandbars, and shifting currents, especially hazardous in early spring with cold water, fog, and high winds.
FINAL DISPOSITION
- Total loss by grounding or wave destruction
- Crew: Survived
- Cargo: Unknown or not recovered
- Wreckage: Possibly buried under Big Sandy Bay’s sand shifts or scattered along adjacent beachline
CURRENT STATUS & NOTES
- Site has not been surveyed; no modern divers or archaeologists have confirmed visible wreckage
- High likelihood that wreck remains, if any, are now submerged, scattered, or buried under littoral drift
- May be eligible for listing under “lost, unconfirmed wrecks – shoreline remains possible”
REFERENCES & LINKS
- Original report summary:
“*April 10 – Schr. *Nellie Theresa, totally wrecked at Big Sandy, Lake Ontario. Crew saved.“ - Maritime History of the Great Lakes Database: Search ongoing for registration and news reports
- David Swayze’s Shipwreck File: No detailed entry, suggesting further documentation may be minimal
- Local Historical Societies: Jefferson and Oswego County records for spring 19th century schooner losses
CONCLUSION
The Nellie Theresa joins the ranks of shore wrecks along Lake Ontario’s eastern beaches, claimed by early-season storms. Like many small schooners of the period, her memory survives primarily through terse newspaper entries. Until evidence surfaces (panels, iron fasteners, ballast piles), she will remain a candidate for field confirmation by beachcombers, sonar, or storm-induced exposure.
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