Toledo (1836)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Toledo
• Type: 2-mast schooner
• Year Built: 1836
• Builder: John Carrick, Buffalo, New York
• Dimensions: Length: 98 ft (29.87 m); Beam: 24 ft (7.32 m); Depth of hold: 10 ft (3.05 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 215 tonnage (Old Style)
• Location: 0.5 mile east of the mouth of the Grand River, near Fairport, Ohio
• Official Number: None
• Original Owners: Charles Howland of Buffalo, New York
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Toledo was a two-masted schooner constructed in 1836 by shipbuilder John Carrick in Buffalo, New York. It was primarily designed for cargo transport across the Great Lakes.

Description

The Toledo measured 98 feet in length, 24 feet in beam, and had a depth of 10 feet, with a tonnage of 215. It was well-suited for navigating the often unpredictable waters of Lake Erie.

History

On November 5, 1838, the Toledo encountered a fierce storm while upbound on Lake Erie, near the mouth of the Grand River, close to Fairport, Ohio. The storm drove the vessel ashore, where it broke in two. The ship’s cargo, which consisted of dry goods valued between $100,000 and $150,000, was largely lost, though some of it was recovered. No lives were lost in the disaster.

The Toledo was owned by Charles Howland of Buffalo, New York, and captained by Captain Scoville at the time of its wrecking. After the loss, there are indications that the vessel may have been resurrected in 1844, rebuilt into a brig, and possibly later wrecked again at Ahnapee, Wisconsin, in 1848. This second wrecking remains speculative.

Significant Incidents

• November 5, 1838: The Toledo was driven ashore by a storm, breaking in two.
• 1844: Possible resurrection and rebuilding as a brig.
• 1848: Possible wrecking at Ahnapee, Wisconsin.

Final Disposition

The Toledo was broken in two after being driven ashore by a violent gale on November 5, 1838, near Fairport, Ohio. The ship’s cargo was partially salvaged. There is evidence suggesting the ship may have been rebuilt as a brig in 1844, though its later fate is unclear.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There is no mention of the wreck site being located or identified in modern times. The details of the wrecking near the Grand River mouth are limited, and no further exploration or recovery of the vessel’s remains seems to have occurred.

Resources & Links

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The Toledo was a wooden schooner that met its end on Lake Erie in 1838 after being caught in a storm. Though no lives were lost, the ship and much of its cargo were destroyed. The Toledo‘s wreck provides a snapshot of the risks faced by 19th-century mariners navigating the often-turbulent waters of the Great Lakes.