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Shipwrecks of Lake Erie: Tragedy in the Quadrangle
A history of Lake Erie’s most mysterious and notorious wrecks and disappearances.
The great lakes have seen many ships meet their end, but none so much as Lake Erie. As the shallowest of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie is prone to sudden waves and wildly shifting sandbars. The steamer Atlantic succumbed to these conditions when, in 1852, a late-night collision brought sixty-eight of its weary immigrant passengers to watery graves. The 1916 Black Friday Storm sank four ships—including the “unsinkable” James B. Colgate—in the course of its twenty-hour tantrum over the lake. In 1954, a difficult fishing season sent the Richard R into troubled waters in the hopes of catching a few more fish. One of the lake's sudden storms drowned the boat and three-man crew. At just fifty miles wide and 200 miles long, Lake Erie has claimed more ships per square mile than any other body of freshwater. Author David Frew dives deep to discover the mysteries of some of Lake Erie’s most notorious wrecks.
“Well-illustrated with maps, historic and contemporary photographs, and various advertisements and news announcements, Frew’s engaging study ends with a reasoned, historically grounded discussion of the question, “Is Lake Erie’s shipwreck era over?” —OHS Bulletin
The great lakes have seen many ships meet their end, but none so much as Lake Erie. As the shallowest of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie is prone to sudden waves and wildly shifting sandbars. The steamer Atlantic succumbed to these conditions when, in 1852, a late-night collision brought sixty-eight of its weary immigrant passengers to watery graves. The 1916 Black Friday Storm sank four ships—including the “unsinkable” James B. Colgate—in the course of its twenty-hour tantrum over the lake. In 1954, a difficult fishing season sent the Richard R into troubled waters in the hopes of catching a few more fish. One of the lake's sudden storms drowned the boat and three-man crew. At just fifty miles wide and 200 miles long, Lake Erie has claimed more ships per square mile than any other body of freshwater. Author David Frew dives deep to discover the mysteries of some of Lake Erie’s most notorious wrecks.
“Well-illustrated with maps, historic and contemporary photographs, and various advertisements and news announcements, Frew’s engaging study ends with a reasoned, historically grounded discussion of the question, “Is Lake Erie’s shipwreck era over?” —OHS Bulletin
- GenresNonfictionHistory
177 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2014
26 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
David R. Frew
22 books2 followersDavid Frew is a visiting professor at Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA in the Graduate Organizational Leadership program. He is professor emeritus at Gannnon University.
Dr. Frew has authored or coauthored 35 books including several on Great Lakes history.
Dr. Frew has authored or coauthored 35 books including several on Great Lakes history.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Currently reading
September 29, 2019A mystery and thriller, loved it.
Being born and raised in Erie in the 70's and 80's I found myself instantly attracted to this book and subject. I was not disappointed! David Free is an excellent author and a master story teller. I spent countless hours in the public docks and Presque State Park as a teenager and was always fascinated and even some what cautious of those choppy waters. Thanks for the memories Mr. Frew!
Being born and raised in Erie in the 70's and 80's I found myself instantly attracted to this book and subject. I was not disappointed! David Free is an excellent author and a master story teller. I spent countless hours in the public docks and Presque State Park as a teenager and was always fascinated and even some what cautious of those choppy waters. Thanks for the memories Mr. Frew!
May 6, 2022
It's amazing what gems you can find on the $5 clearance rack at Giant Eagle. The story of the ship loaded with nitro glycerin sailing into the gales of November was particularly thrilling. I couldn't help but think of the Gordon Lightfoot song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" while reading this.
September 21, 2020
Interesting book about some of the shipwrecks of Lake Erie. Makes a person want to delve into more books about shipwrecks.
October 22, 2023
David is one of my favorite authors.
March 17, 2025
Interesting look at a number of shipwrecks between the US and Canada in the middle portion of Lake Erie. Most of these are in the area between Long Point and Presque Isle.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews