Identification & Specifications
- Name: Olive Richmond (no official Registry Number recorded)
- Type: Wooden Brig (two-masted square-rigged vessel)
- Built: 1842
- Dimensions: Approximately 94 × 24 × 9 ft; ~168 tons
- Ownership: Registered out of Chicago under owner J. Ransom, with Capt. Peterson commanding at loss
Final Voyage & Wreck – April 27, 1854, Lake Michigan
- Departed Chicago bound for Cleveland (or other Lake Michigan port).
- During a powerful spring gale, she was driven onto the Cleveland Breakwater, became stranded, and broke apart over several days.
- The Brig was declared a Total Loss, valued at about $2,350.
- She carried no cargo, and there is no recorded loss of life among her crew.
- Remarkably, the remainder of her crew survived by sheltering aboard a nearby stranded Brig also named Olive Richmond (likely a similarly wrecked vessel)
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Wreck Details & Aftermath
- Location: Cleveland Breakwater, Lake Michigan
- Incident Description: Swept ashore in gale-force winds, the Brig remained stuck and was battered against the structure until her timbers failed—broken to pieces over multiple days.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Sources & Citations
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry provides a detailed account of the incident, including construction specs, ownership, storm loss, valuation, and crew survival aboard her sister vessel
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Research Gaps & Recommended Actions
| Research Area | Suggested Next Step |
|---|---|
| Exact Entry Date | Search April 1854 Cleveland newspapers (e.g., Cleveland Plain Dealer) for arrival misfortune and storm report |
| Crew & Command Records | Examine Chicago customs or port departure logs to identify crew complement and possibly confirm “same-name Brig” confusion |
| Breakwater Analysis | Compare 1854 Breakwater design with sheathing and collision points to model how the vessel grounded |
| Archaeological Assessment | Consider shallow-water remote sensing near Breakwater to detect structural remains or debris fields |
Historical Significance
Olive Richmond represents an early example of mid-19th-century wooden brigs serving Great Lakes trade and passenger routes. Her dramatic wreck highlights hazards at engineered harbor structures during sudden spring storms, before modern navigation and forecasting. The survival of her crew aboard a sister wreck adds a poignant human layer to this maritime event. Locating her remains—or uncovering contemporary reports—would enhance understanding of early Lake Michigan ship design and harbor accident response.