Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Red Bird
- Type: Two-mast wooden scow-schooner
- Year Built: 1870
- Builder: R.G. McPherson
- Dimensions: Approximately 65 × 17 × 4 ft; 39 gross/net tons
- Registered Tonnage: 39 gross/net tons
- Location: About 12 nautical miles NE of Fairport Harbor, Ohio, Lake Erie
- Official Number: C72960
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Scow-Schooner – Built 1870, R.G. McPherson, Hamilton, Ont.
Description
The Red Bird was a two-mast wooden scow-schooner designed for bulk transport. It was constructed in 1870 and had a service life of over 30 years, which was considerable for a vessel of its class.
History
The Red Bird was heavily constructed for bulk freight and was lost without a formal incident report. No specific cause for its sinking—such as storm, collision, or fire—is recorded, and no casualties are documented. The vessel was removed from service sometime after 1900, but the exact date of loss remains unrecorded.
Significant Incidents
- The Red Bird sank quietly, with no formal notice or incident report.
- No salvage operations are documented, and the wreckage is believed to lie undisturbed on the lake bottom.
Final Disposition
The vessel was declared a total loss and officially deemed ‘out of commission’ in records post-1900. Its sinking remains unreported, typical for small commercial craft without crew loss or insurance claims.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Red Bird is likely undisturbed on the lake bottom, with no known salvage operations conducted.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”red-bird-c-72960″ title=”References & Links”]
Divers interested in exploring the Red Bird will find a site that reflects the quiet demise of a once-active commercial vessel, now resting in the depths of Lake Erie.
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.
Scow‑Schooner – Built 1870, R.G. McPherson, Hamilton, Ont.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Red Bird
- Official Number: C72960
- Built: 1870 at Hamilton, Ontario by R. McPherson
- Type: Two‑mast wooden scow‑schooner, used for bulk transport
- Dimensions: Approximately 65 × 17 × 4 ft; 39 gross/net tons
- Loss Date: Sometime after 1900 (exact date unrecorded)
- Location: Sank about 12 nautical miles NE of Fairport Harbor, Ohio, Lake Erie
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Facebook)
Circumstances of Loss
- The Red Bird, heavily constructed for bulk freight, was lost with no formal incident report.
- No specific cause—such as storm, collision, or fire—is recorded, and no casualties are documented.
- Her sinking remains unreported beyond being removed from service after 1900.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Disposition
- The vessel quietly sank and was declared a total loss; officially deemed “out of commission” in records post-1900.
- No salvage operations are documented; wreckage most likely lies undisturbed on the lake bottom.
Historical Context
- A service life of over 30 years was considerable for a wooden scow of her class.
- Her quiet demise—away from docks and lacking formal notice—was typical for small commercial craft without crew loss or insurance claims.
Summary Table
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Built | 1870, Hamilton, Ontario |
| Type | Wooden 2‑mast scow‑schooner |
| Size | 65 × 17 × 4 ft; ~39 gross/net tons |
| Lost | Post‑1900 sinking, Lake Erie (Fairport Harbor area) |
| Cause | Not recorded; sinking quietly |
| Crew / Casualties | None reported |
| Wreck | Total loss; abandoned; remains underwater |