From Gawthrop to Kohler
The G.A. Kohler began its life under a different name—Charles S. Gawthrop. This four-masted schooner, equipped with twin diesel auxiliary engines, was crafted at the Jackson & Sharp plant of the American Car & Foundry Company in Wilmington, Delaware. According to the January 1920 edition of Motorship, the schooner’s first trial run took place on November 13, 1919, successfully navigating from Wilmington to Delaware Breakwater.
In 1923, The Baltimore Sun reported that the schooner was transferred from the Woodin Transportation Company to the Maryland Transportation Company. A few years later, in 1926, the vessel was renamed G.A. Kohler.
The Final Voyage: August 1933
On August 20, 1933, the G.A. Kohler set out from Baltimore, Maryland, destined for Haiti under the command of Captain George Hopkins. However, as the ship headed south, it encountered a powerful hurricane off the coast of North Carolina. After leaving the safety of the Chesapeake Bay, the schooner lost its sails and found itself helpless in the storm’s relentless winds.
The hurricane drove the G.A. Kohler aground on the beach, approximately four miles south of Salvo on the Outer Banks. Rescuers from the Chicamacomico Life Saving Station and Gull Shores braved the storm and, once the winds subsided, successfully rescued all crew members and passengers.
Stranded for a Decade
The ship’s story did not end with the rescue. Though everyone on board was saved, the G.A. Kohler remained stranded on the beach for nearly a decade. Islanders were hired to salvage materials from the wreck, and eventually, the ship was sold for just $150. Its timbers found new life within the community.
According to a National Park Service study, wood from the G.A. Kohler was used to build what is now the Lighthouse Church in Salvo. The study notes, “The congregation met in people’s homes until a church was built in 1935…from timbers of the G.A. Kohler shipwreck of 1933. The first service was held on October 6, 1935.”
A Fiery End and Hidden Legacy
During World War II, the remains of the G.A. Kohler were burned to salvage the metal from her fittings, marking the end of her physical presence. However, remnants of the ship continue to appear from time to time as shifting sands along the Outer Banks reveal traces of her hull.
A Legacy in the Sand
The G.A. Kohler stands as a reminder of the treacherous waters along the coast of North Carolina and the resourcefulness of the local community. Though the hurricane ended the ship’s seafaring days, her legacy lives on in the Lighthouse Church and in the stories passed down by generations of islanders. Occasionally, nature offers a glimpse of her bones beneath the ever-changing sands, giving visitors a chance to witness a piece of maritime history.
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