Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Unadilla
- Type: Wooden schooner-barge
- Year Built: 1862
- Builder: Lafrinier or Peck & Masters, Cleveland, Ohio
- Dimensions: 154 ft x 31 ft x 13 ft (46.9 m x 9.4 m x 4.0 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 396 gross tons, 376 net tons
- Location: Cleveland, Ohio, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 25021
- Number of Masts: Originally three-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Unadilla was originally built as a three-masted wooden schooner but was later converted into a schooner-barge, meaning it was towed by a steam-powered vessel rather than sailing independently. These converted barges were commonly used to carry bulk cargo such as lumber, coal, or stone.
Description
Built in 1862 in Cleveland, the Unadilla had a long and eventful career spanning over 50 years. Originally constructed as a three-masted schooner, it was rebuilt into a schooner-barge in 1879, likely to improve efficiency in the growing Great Lakes towing industry. Over the years, the vessel underwent major repairs in 1881, 1886, and 1894, which suggests it sustained significant damage multiple times but was kept in service due to its value in transporting bulk materials.
History
The ship survived multiple accidents, including:
- November 20, 1886 – Reported broken by a storm in the Straits of Mackinac.
- September 1893 – Went ashore on Gull Island, Lake Michigan, and was declared a total loss. However, it was later salvaged and repaired.
- On December 2, 1913, the Unadilla met its final disaster at Cleveland, Ohio, when it was driven onto a breakwater during a storm. The vessel was deemed a constructive total loss (damaged beyond repair but not completely destroyed). The wreck remained on the breakwater for nearly two years, exposed to the elements.
- On November 15, 1915, the abandoned hull caught fire and was completely destroyed, bringing an end to the 53-year-old vessel.
Significant Incidents
The Unadilla faced several significant incidents throughout its service:
- Reported broken by a storm in the Straits of Mackinac on November 20, 1886.
- Declared a total loss after going ashore on Gull Island, Lake Michigan in September 1893, but salvaged and repaired.
- Driven onto a breakwater during a storm on December 2, 1913, resulting in a constructive total loss.
- Abandoned hull caught fire and was completely destroyed on November 15, 1915.
Final Disposition
The Unadilla was left stranded on the breakwater at Cleveland until it burned down in 1915. Any remains would have been scattered or removed over time due to harbor maintenance and dredging.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No confirmed wreckage remains, as the vessel burned and was likely removed or disintegrated.
Cleveland’s breakwater has undergone extensive modifications, making it unlikely that any wreckage remains today.
No known modern navigational hazards linked to this wreck exist.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”unadilla-us-25021″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Unadilla had an incredibly long and eventful career, surviving multiple wrecks, storms, and rebuilds before finally meeting its end on the Cleveland breakwater in 1913. After 53 years of service, its burning in 1915 marked the conclusion of one of the longest-serving wooden schooner-barges on the Great Lakes.
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.
Identification & Site Information
- Name: Unadilla
- Former Names: None
- Official Number: 25021
- Date Built & Launched: 1862
- Builder: Lafrinier or Peck & Masters, Cleveland, Ohio
- Specifications: 154 ft x 31 ft x 13 ft (46.9 m x 9.4 m x 4.0 m), 396 gross tons, 376 net tons
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner-barge (originally a three-masted schooner)
- Date Lost: December 2, 1913
- Place of Loss: Cleveland, Ohio, Lake Erie
- Cause of Loss: Driven onto breakwater during a storm
- Loss of Life: None
- Cargo: Unknown (possibly lumber)
- Rebuilds & Repairs:
- 1879 – Rebuilt
- 1881, 1886, 1894 – Major repairs
Vessel Type
The Unadilla was originally built as a three-masted wooden schooner but was later converted into a schooner-barge, meaning it was towed by a steam-powered vessel rather than sailing independently. These converted barges were commonly used to carry bulk cargo such as lumber, coal, or stone.
Description & History
Built in 1862 in Cleveland, the Unadilla had a long and eventful career spanning over 50 years. Originally constructed as a three-masted schooner, it was rebuilt into a schooner-barge in 1879, likely to improve efficiency in the growing Great Lakes towing industry. Over the years, the vessel underwent major repairs in 1881, 1886, and 1894, which suggests it sustained significant damage multiple times but was kept in service due to its value in transporting bulk materials.
The ship survived multiple accidents, including:
- November 20, 1886 – Reported broken by a storm in the Straits of Mackinac.
- September 1893 – Went ashore on Gull Island, Lake Michigan, and was declared a total loss. However, it was later salvaged and repaired.
- On December 2, 1913, the Unadilla met its final disaster at Cleveland, Ohio, when it was driven onto a breakwater during a storm. The vessel was deemed a constructive total loss (damaged beyond repair but not completely destroyed). The wreck remained on the breakwater for nearly two years, exposed to the elements.
- On November 15, 1915, the abandoned hull caught fire and was completely destroyed, bringing an end to the 53-year-old vessel.
Final Disposition
The Unadilla was left stranded on the breakwater at Cleveland until it burned down in 1915. Any remains would have been scattered or removed over time due to harbor maintenance and dredging.
Located By & Date Found
No confirmed wreckage remains, as the vessel burned and was likely removed or disintegrated.
Notmars & Advisories
Cleveland’s breakwater has undergone extensive modifications, making it unlikely that any wreckage remains today.
No known modern navigational hazards linked to this wreck exist.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Ships Database
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- NOAA Great Lakes Shipwrecks
Conclusion
The Unadilla had an incredibly long and eventful career, surviving multiple wrecks, storms, and rebuilds before finally meeting its end on the Cleveland breakwater in 1913. After 53 years of service, its burning in 1915 marked the conclusion of one of the longest-serving wooden schooner-barges on the Great Lakes.
Keywords & Categories
Keywords: Great Lakes schooners, schooner-barges, Cleveland shipwrecks, Lake Erie maritime history, storm-related wrecks
Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Erie, 19th-century shipwrecks, wooden schooner-barges, fire-related losses
Glossary Terms: Schooner-Barge, Constructive Total Loss, Great Lakes Storms, Cleveland Breakwater
unadilla-us-25021 1913-12-02 07:55:00