Avon Lake in Lorain County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

ALVA #B Tug Shipwreck

Photographed by Craig Doda, February 28, 2026

1. ALVA #B Tug Shipwreck Marker

Inscription. Home port of Cleveland
under command of
Capt. John Frietas
ALVA-B
Built in Buffalo N.Y. 1890
Steam power 83 ton gross
78'6" length 18'6" wide 10'6" draft

Prop
Steel 7'3'' tip to tip
6 1/4 shaft 2890 lb. weight
Sank off Avon Lake on Thur. Nov. 2, 1917 they were taking on water. The crew mistook the lights from Beach Park Amusement Park for a safe port.

Raised Oct. 30, 1989 & Donated by
Anthony T. Scarpellt • Robert L. Grachanin • James Grospitch • William Kantor • Dr. John Simpson • Ronald F. Conn • Marsh Bruehler • Bill Votruba • Paul Tasse • Augusta Scarpelli • Cel. Avon Lake Plant • Avon Lake Press

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is October 2, 1917.

Location. 41° 30.173′ N, 82° 3.642′ W. Marker is in Avon Lake, Ohio, in Lorain County. It is at the intersection of Lake Road (U.S. 6) and Miller Road, on the right when traveling west on Lake Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 33760 Lake Rd, Avon Lake OH 44012, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Cleveland,

on the Lake Erie Shore,

and in the Western Reserve.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Significant Dates in Avon Lake History (within shouting distance of this marker); Peter J. Miller House / Adam Miller & Family

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); 103rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry (approx. half a mile away); Beach Park Station (approx. 0.6 miles away); Jay Terrell and his "Terrible Fish" (approx. 1½ miles away); In memory of the Brookside Graduates Who Gave All in the Vietnam War (approx. 1½ miles away); Avon Lake World War II Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.2 miles away); Comrades interned in Lake Shore Cemetery (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Avon Lake.

Photographed by Craig Doda, February 28, 2026

2. ALVA #B Tug Shipwreck Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 22, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 22, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.