Identification Card (Site Style)

Name: J.L. Gross
Other Names: None recorded
Official Number: 13478
Registry: United States
Vessel Type: Wooden Schooner
Builder: P.M. Brush, Vermillion, Ohio
Year Built: 1857
Number of Decks: 1
Dimensions: 132 ft (40.2 m) × 26 ft (7.9 m) × 10 ft (3.0 m)
Tonnage: 352 tons (old measurement); 247.89 gross tons after 1868 registry
Hull Material: Wood
Cargo on Final Voyage: Coal
Date of Loss: 30 October 1873
Location: Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw Peninsula, Lake Superior
Coordinates: N 47° 27.590′, W 088° 09.310′ (Google Maps link)
Depth: 20–30 ft (6–9 m)
Home Port: Vermillion, OH; later Chicago, IL
Owners: C.L. Burton (1860), Burton & Pearce (1860), Chicago registry (1868)
Crew: Not documented
Casualties: None reported

Description

The J.L. Gross was a mid-sized wooden Schooner launched in 1857 at Vermillion, Ohio, by P.M. Brush. Designed for Great Lakes cargo traffic, she measured 132 ft in length, with a beam of 26 ft and depth of 10 ft. She carried a single Deck and was employed in bulk trades including coal, timber, and ore. Over her career, she underwent multiple rebuilds and enlargements, reflecting the heavy wear of two decades of continuous service.

History

  • 1857 – Launched at Vermillion, OH.
  • 1859 (Aug 16) – Collision with Schooner Kosciusko at St. Clair Flats.
  • 1860 – Owned by C.L. Burton, Vermillion; later Burton & Pearce, Vermillion.
  • 1868 – Ownership transferred to Chicago; tonnage listed as 247.89 gross tons.
  • 1869 – Sank in St. Mary’s River; raised, fitted with new mainmast and boom.
  • 1872 – Ashore in Green Bay, WI.
  • 1872–73 – Rebuilt and enlarged at Vermillion, OH.
  • 1873 (Oct 30) – While inbound to the Copper Falls Mine with coal, struck a rock off Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw Peninsula. Beached and battered by heavy seas, declared a Total Loss.

Final Disposition

The J.L. Gross was driven ashore in heavy weather at Eagle Harbor, Michigan, on October 30, 1873. The vessel was intentionally beached after striking a rock but was broken apart by pounding seas. No lives were lost. Wreckage remains in 20–30 ft of water.

Located By & Date Found

The wreck site has been locally known since the time of loss (1873). Coordinates logged as 47°27.590′N, 88°09.310′W.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No current NOTMARs specific to this site. Divers should exercise caution due to shallow reef structure.

Dive Information

Access: Boat launch at Eagle Harbor
Conditions: Good Visibility in clear Lake Superior water; exposure to surge in heavy weather
Depth Range: 20–30 ft (6–9 m)
Emergency Contacts: USCG Sector Sault Ste. Marie
Permits: Artifact removal prohibited under Michigan law
Dive Support: Local charters and facilities operate out of Eagle Harbor and Copper Harbor

Crew & Casualty Memorials

No casualties reported. No known crew memorials specific to this wreck.

Documented Statements & Extracts

“The Schooner J.L. Gross, bound for the Copper Falls Mine with coal, struck a rock and was beached at Eagle Harbor. Heavy seas soon broke her up.” — Great Lakes casualty reports, October 1873.

Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails

Official Number: 13478.
Enrolled at Vermillion, Ohio (1857); later at Chicago, Illinois (1868).
Tonnage listed variously at 352 tons (old measurement) and 247.89 gross tons (new system).
Insurance records not yet located.

Site Documentation & Imaging

The wreck lies in shallow water (20–30 ft) at Eagle Harbor, Michigan. Some timbers may remain buried under shifting sands and boulders. The site is accessible to divers but minimally documented by modern surveys.

Resources & Links

References

  1. U.S. Official Register of Shipping, No. 13478.
  2. Great Lakes casualty lists, October 1873.
  3. Chronicling America newspaper archives, Vermillion & Chicago entries.

NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card

Wreck Name: J.L. Gross
Other Names: None
Official Number: 13478
Coordinates: N 47° 27.590′, W 088° 09.310′ (Google Maps link)
Depth: 20–30 ft (6–9 m)
Location Description: Eagle Harbor, Keweenaw Peninsula, Lake Superior
Vessel Type: Wooden Schooner
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 132 × 26 × 10 ft; 352 tons (old system)
Condition: Wrecked and pounded to pieces; shallow remains
Cause of Loss: Struck rock, beached, broken up by storm
Discovery Date: 1873 (immediately known)
Discovered By: N/A
Method: Grounding and beaching
Legal Notes: Registry struck post-loss; protected under Michigan Antiquities Act
Hazards: Submerged timbers in shallow reef
Permits Required: Yes, for survey or artifact removal