Seventh Ohio US 23054

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Seventh Ohio
• Type: Wooden Two-Masted Schooner
• Year Built: 1864
• Builder: H. Kelly in Milan, Ohio
• Dimensions: 99 ft × 24 ft × 8 ft (depth)
• Registered Tonnage: Approximately 130 tons
• Location: Chicago Harbor, Lake Michigan
• Official Number: 23054
• Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden Two-Masted Schooner

Description

Final Voyage & Loss – 4 November 1877, Chicago Harbor

• Incident Date: 4 November 1877
• Location: Chicago Harbor, Lake Michigan
• Weather Conditions: Severe storm and high winds
• Event: The Seventh Ohio was carrying lumber when, amidst the gale, she collided with another schooner, Glad Tidings. Both vessels suffered serious damage.
• Aftermath: Seventh Ohio drifted onto the breakwater near 18th Street, pounded to pieces, and was declared a total loss. Glad Tidings was seriously damaged but managed to be rescued by a tug.
• Casualties: No fatalities or injuries reported.

History

Specifications & Registrations

• Official Number: 23054
• Built: 1864 by H. Kelly in Milan, Ohio
• Dimensions: 99 ft × 24 ft × 8 ft (depth)
• Tonnage: Approximately 130 tons
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Lumber

Significant Incidents

Significance & Context

• The wreck exemplifies the heightened danger of navigating Chicago Harbor during sudden November storms, especially among wooden lumber schooners.
• The involvement of Glad Tidings and the use of tug assistance illustrate the collaborative salvage efforts typical after such maritime accidents.

Final Disposition

Archival References

• Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry “38 PM G” — provides incident summary and loss details.
• U.S. War Department’s 1877 Shipping Report — logs entry for 4 Nov noting collisions involving Glad Tidings.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Research & Follow-Up Opportunities

• Newspaper Archive Investigation — Examine the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Daily News, and Great Lakes maritime journals published in early November 1877 for eye-witness accounts and post-incident reports.
• Harbor & Salvage Records — Search the records of Chicago harbor master and tug companies for details on salvage contracts, cleanup operations, and damage assessments.
• Underwater Archaeology — While the Seventh Ohio was smashed on the breakwater and thought removed or buried, nearshore debris may still exist in Lake Michigan sediments.

Resources & Links

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The Seventh Ohio, a mid-19th-century lumber schooner built in 1864, was lost on 4 November 1877 during a violent storm in Chicago Harbor. Following a collision with the Glad Tidings, she was driven onto a breakwater and destroyed. Fortunately, all crew survived. The event underscores the navigational hazards of late-season storms and the structural vulnerabilities of wooden schooners.