Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Toledo
- Type: Wooden propeller, passenger & package freight
- Year Built: 1854
- Builder: B.B. Jones, Buffalo, New York
- Dimensions: Length: 178 ft (54.3 m); Beam: 30 ft (9.14 m); Depth of hold: 12 ft (3.66 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 585 tonnage (Old Style)
- Location: Off Port Washington, Wisconsin
- Original Owners: Not specified in the available records
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Toledo was a wooden propeller vessel designed for passenger and package freight transport across the Great Lakes.
Description
The Toledo was a wooden propeller vessel built in 1854 by B.B. Jones in Buffalo, New York. It was a large ship for its time, measuring 178 feet in length, 30 feet in beam, and with a depth of 12 feet, carrying a gross tonnage of 585. As a passenger and package freight vessel, the Toledo was likely used to transport both people and goods across the Great Lakes, particularly on Lake Michigan, where it met its ill-fated end.
On October 22, 1856, the Toledo encountered a fierce storm while preparing to depart from Port Washington, Wisconsin. As the crew attempted to lift the anchor (or “hook”) to get underway, the ship sprang several bow strakes, causing it to fill with water quickly. In the ensuing chaos, the vessel sank, and the storm contributed to a heavy loss of life. The majority of the 60-70 people aboard perished, with between 40 to 55 people reported dead, though later reports suggested that approximately 50 bodies were recovered from the waters. Only 3 survivors managed to escape the disaster.
The wreck was eventually towed to shore, but it was not salvaged. Instead, the ship was left to sink. Later, in another storm, the wreck was pounded to pieces, further scattering the remains of the vessel. The loss of the Toledo and its cargo, valued at $170,000, was considered an insurance loss.
History
The Toledo was built in 1854 and served as a passenger and package freight vessel on the Great Lakes. Its service history included transporting goods and people across Lake Michigan until its tragic sinking in 1856.
Significant Incidents
- October 22, 1856: The Toledo sank during a storm off Port Washington, Wisconsin, resulting in the loss of 40 to 55 lives and only 3 survivors.
Final Disposition
After the Toledo sank off Port Washington, Wisconsin, the wreck was towed in and abandoned to sink. In the following days, the ship’s remains were shattered in another storm, and it was eventually broken up. The ship and its cargo were considered a total loss, with the entire event being an insurance claim amounting to $170,000. The sinking led to a significant loss of life, with only three survivors of the original 60-70 passengers and crew.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no specific reports of the exact location where the wreck of the Toledo was found or any modern exploration of the site. However, given the storm conditions and the wreck’s destruction by later storms, it is possible that the remains of the vessel were scattered across the lakebed near Port Washington.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”toledo-1854″ title=”References & Links”]
The Toledo was a large, wooden propeller vessel built in 1854 for passenger and freight transport across the Great Lakes. On October 22, 1856, it was struck by a violent storm off the coast of Port Washington, Wisconsin, resulting in the ship’s rapid sinking and the tragic loss of life. Despite attempts to rescue the vessel or salvage its remains, the wreck was eventually lost to the lake, and the Toledo‘s disaster remains one of the many examples of the perilous nature of maritime travel on the Great Lakes in the 19th century.
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.
TOLEDO – Shipwreck Information
- Type at Loss: Wooden propeller, passenger & package freight
- Built: 1854, by B.B. Jones, Buffalo, New York
- Measurements: Length: 178 ft (54.3 m) Beam: 30 ft (9.14 m) Depth: 12 ft (3.66 m)
- Tonnage: 585 tonnage (Old Style)
- Date of Loss: October 22, 1856
- Place of Loss: Off Port Washington, Wisconsin, Lake Michigan
- Lake: Michigan
- Type of Loss: Storm
- Loss of Life: 40 to 55 (later reports stated about 50 bodies of the 60-70 aboard had been recovered), with 3 survivors
- Cargo: General merchandise
- Owner at Time of Loss: Not specified in the available records
- Captain at Time of Loss: Not specified in the available records
- Vessel Type Wooden propeller, designed for passenger and package freight
Description
The Toledo was a wooden propeller vessel built in 1854 by B.B. Jones in Buffalo, New York. It was a large ship for its time, measuring 178 feet in length, 30 feet in beam, and with a depth of 12 feet, carrying a gross tonnage of 585. As a passenger and package freight vessel, the Toledo was likely used to transport both people and goods across the Great Lakes, particularly on Lake Michigan, where it met its ill-fated end.
On October 22, 1856, the Toledo encountered a fierce storm while preparing to depart from Port Washington, Wisconsin. As the crew attempted to lift the anchor (or “hook”) to get underway, the ship sprang several bow strakes, causing it to fill with water quickly. In the ensuing chaos, the vessel sank, and the storm contributed to a heavy loss of life. The majority of the 60-70 people aboard perished, with between 40 to 55 people reported dead, though later reports suggested that approximately 50 bodies were recovered from the waters. Only 3 survivors managed to escape the disaster.
The wreck was eventually towed to shore, but it was not salvaged. Instead, the ship was left to sink. Later, in another storm, the wreck was pounded to pieces, further scattering the remains of the vessel. The loss of the Toledo and its cargo, valued at $170,000, was considered an insurance loss.
Final Dispositions
After the Toledo sank off Port Washington, Wisconsin, the wreck was towed in and abandoned to sink. In the following days, the ship’s remains were shattered in another storm, and it was eventually broken up. The ship and its cargo were considered a total loss, with the entire event being an insurance claim amounting to $170,000. The sinking led to a significant loss of life, with only three survivors of the original 60-70 passengers and crew.
Located By & Date Found
There are no specific reports of the exact location where the wreck of the Toledo was found or any modern exploration of the site. However, given the storm conditions and the wreck’s destruction by later storms, it is possible that the remains of the vessel were scattered across the lakebed near Port Washington.
Notable Marks & Advisories
There are no specific navigational marks or advisories linked directly to the wreck of the Toledo. The vessel sank during a storm and was later broken up in subsequent storms, meaning there are no remaining warnings regarding its wreck site. However, the site of the wreck off Port Washington remains part of Great Lakes maritime history.
Resources & Links
- David Swayze Shipwreck File HGL, EAS, IS(3-66), GLSS, SOL, H, LMDC, LHL, NSP, BB, MPL, CTW, BLU[56]
- Great Lakes Shipwrecks and Survivals
- The Maritime History of the Great Lakes
Conclusion
The Toledo was a large, wooden propeller vessel built in 1854 for passenger and freight transport across the Great Lakes. On October 22, 1856, it was struck by a violent storm off the coast of Port Washington, Wisconsin, resulting in the ship’s rapid sinking and the tragic loss of life. Despite attempts to rescue the vessel or salvage its remains, the wreck was eventually lost to the lake, and the Toledo‘s disaster remains one of the many examples of the perilous nature of maritime travel on the Great Lakes in the 19th century.
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