Built in 1917, the 241′ long wood bottomed steel freighter sailed under the name “T.P. Phelan” for nearly 8 years before she was purchased by Gravel Products Corporation, of Buffalo NY. She was then converted to a sandsucker in 1926 and sailed under the name “Howard Gerkin”. On August 21st of that same year she was in route to Buffalo after completing work in Erie, PA When she encountered a storm of gale force winds, rain and hail. The captain made an attempt to steer back to port at Erie, but the storm was too much and she began taking on water. the crew started a signal fire on the roof of the engine house and launched the life boats. 16 men were saved by the car ferry “Maitland”, but four were missing. The following day one of the crew was saved, but the others were never found. Today the Howard Gerkin lies upside-down in 80′ of water. Two large propellers and rudders make this an interesting dive. The entire hull stands nearly 8′ out of the bottom.

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