Preliminary Field Report (CLUE Dive: May 28, 2005)
Location & Conditions
- Coordinates: Off Lakewood, OH near “117th Street Wreck”
- Depth: 45 ft (13.7 m)
- Visibility: Initially 5’–8′, dropped to 3′ during storm
- Environmental Notes: Thunderstorm occurred mid-dive with anchor drift of ~0.33 mi
Wreck Description
- Measured Length: 90 ft ±5 ft
- Heading: 270° magnetic (bow pointing west)
- Hull: Wooden
- Bow: 8 ft tall, clad in metal (icebreaking sheathing)
- Stern: Raked/tapered; undercut for screw & rudder (unseen)
Machinery
- Boiler: 14.6′ × 8′, forward-facing twin fireboxes
- Rotated off centerline, forward starboard corner near ribs
- Cradle: Large metal structure (16′ long), possibly machinery mount
- Artifacts: No tools, fittings, or machinery present
- Signs of Salvage: Boiler remains, rest stripped (engine, fittings missing)
- Diver Impact: Netting at bow, prior visitation signs
Analysis
- Vessel Type: Tugboat (likely late 19th century)
- Operational Role: Icebreaking and harbor towing
- Disposition: Likely scuttled or stripped post-salvage
- Notable Construction Traits:
- Icebreaking bow sheathing
- Central boiler, machine cradle
- Stone ballast blocks aft
Comparative Observations
| Feature | CSU Wreck | Lakewood Tug Wreck |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Prob. small freighter/Barge | Prob. Tugboat (icebreaker) |
| Length | ~92 ft ±10 ft | ~90 ft ±5 ft |
| Machinery | Gear/winch fragment | Boiler, cradle, stripped engine room |
| Artifacts | Crockery, bricks, burned timber | None (heavily salvaged) |
| Structural Clues | Double-planking, metal spikes | Ice sheathing, boiler, Stern shape |
| Condition | Broken, buried | Intact but salvaged and tilted |
| Historic Period | Mid-late 19th century (est.) | Likely late 19th century |
Recommendations for Identification
- Historic Tug Registries (1870s–1910s): Search for ~90 ft ice-capable wooden tugs operating near Cleveland.
- Fire Loss Reports: Investigate late 19th-century records for Cleveland-area small freighters lost to fire.
- CLUE Sonar Archive Correlation: Use bathymetric & sidescan data to match silhouettes with known vessel plans.
- Permit-based Excavation (CSU wreck): Focused excavation near north end to retrieve trapped gear element.
- Contact NOAA & ODNR Lake Erie Programs: Cross-reference regional wreck surveys for match potential.