The waters off the shores of the Crane Estate in Ipswich has some of the greatest movement of sand in the state of Massachusetts. These extreme sand movements are caused by shifting currents and wind conditions in the area.
Title Image Source: Shipwreck off Nantucket, William Bradford, 1861
The Ada K Damon, a ship constructed in Essex Massachusetts in 1875, fished the Grand Banks for many years before being sold locally and converted to a sand hauler. In the Damon's final voyage, she sailed for the shores of Plum Island to gather sand from the beaches to be brought to Boston and used in the manufacturing of concrete and other materials. The Ada K. Damon was carried by the storm up onto the beach in 1909, where it remains to this day.
There are many outside factors that influence the site long after wreck has settled. As the environment around the ship is constantly shifting, wrecks like the Ada K Damon are affected dramatically by sand movements. Changes in the environment such as rising ocean levels may alter how shores are effected by waves and current action. |
Another major influence on wrecks are cultural transformation and human interactions. Cargo would be stripped off the boat and resold on the market. Pieces would be salvaged, that were the easiest to remove and most valuable to sell.
Ada K Damon is a highly accessible wreck site that can be easily visited by public beach goers. For this reason it is critical that people be respectful of the site and preserve the integrity of the wreck. It is illegal to now remove anything from the site.
Ada K Damon is a highly accessible wreck site that can be easily visited by public beach goers. For this reason it is critical that people be respectful of the site and preserve the integrity of the wreck. It is illegal to now remove anything from the site.