Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Walrus
• Type: Wooden schooner (two-masted)
• Year Built: 1857
• Builder: Stephens & Laffrienier, Cleveland, Ohio
• Dimensions: Length 136 ft (41.5 m); Beam 26 ft (7.9 m); Depth of hold 12 ft (3.7 m)
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Gray’s Reef, NW of Beaver Islands, Lake Michigan
• Official Number: 26225
• Original Owners: Halsted & Jacobs
• Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Walrus was a mid-19th-century wooden schooner, constructed from white oak—preferable for Great Lakes vessels—at Stephens & Laffrienier in Cleveland in 1857. She featured a two-masted rig and was typical of the agile schooner design widely used for bulk cargo like grain and lumber along regional trade routes.

Description

The Walrus served for over a decade, operating out of Chicago and transporting cargo such as barley across Lake Michigan. In 1862, she received major repairs and underwent a rebuild during 1866–67, suggesting continued value and use in regional trade.

On her final voyage—bound from Chicago to Oswego—she carried 16,500 bushels of barley when, on 7 November 1868, she ran aground on Gray’s Reef amid dense fog. The impact holed the hull, causing the schooner to founder; she sank in a relatively exposed shoal area and was soon broken up by wave action.

History

The Walrus suffered grounding and hull breach in poor visibility conditions (fog). She was quickly dismembered by wave action post-sinking, leading to a total loss. No human casualties were reported.

Significant Incidents

• Grounded on Gray’s Reef in fog on 7 November 1868.
• Holed hull led to sinking and subsequent breakup by wave action.

Final Disposition

The wreck is commonly referred to as the Gray’s Reef Wreck and identified based on archival records matched to field observations and 3D modeling by 3DShipwrecks. The wreck’s fragmented remains align with historical descriptions of structure and cargo but remain circumstantial due to limited visible remains.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No official navigational warnings (“Notmars”) are specifically recorded for this site. However, the shallow reef area and frequent fog hazards historically marked Gray’s Reef as a dangerous passage, underlining the site’s inherent navigational risk.

Access: Boat (site lies offshore on a reef area)
Entry Point: Likely via nearest harbor on Beaver Islands or mainland Michigan (specific harbor details require further research)
Conditions: Historically shallow reef zone, potential strong currents, limited visibility due to croncular sediment shifts
Depth Range: Undocumented; presumed shallow—possibly under 20 ft (6 m) given reef characteristics
Emergency Contacts: Nearest Coast Guard station (e.g., Traverse City USCG), local marine rescue units
Permits: Not documented; diver discretion advised, and adherence to historic preservation laws strongly encouraged
Dive Support: Local charter services around Beaver Islands / northern Lake Michigan could serve divers—specific businesses require location-based research.

Resources & Links

No recorded fatalities occurred with the loss of the Walrus. Consequently, there are no documented memorials, obituaries, or Findagrave links associated with the crew. Further genealogical or archival research would be needed to uncover crew names or survivors if desired.