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This information is credited to David D. Swayze, Lake Isabella, MI.

Please visit his website at http://www.oakland.edu/boatnerd/swayze/shipwreck for more information.

 

CITY OF CHEBOYGAN
Other names : ?
Official no. : ?
Type at loss : schooner, wood
Build info : ?
Specs : 246 t.
Date of loss : 1880 (1886?)
Place of loss : near Detour, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : Driven ashore and wrecked
Probably. refers to schooner CITY OF SHEBOYGAN(qv), #125218, 260g, 246n, built 1871, Sheboygan, WI & out of Sheboygan in '84
Sources: mv,slh,hgl

 

CITY OF SHEBOYGAN
Other names : none
Official no. : C104283 (also given as 137894)
Type at loss : schooner, wood, 3-mast
Build info : 1871, Frank Hamilton, Sheboygan, WI US# 125218
Specs : 135x30x10, 260g 247n
Date of loss : 1915, Sep 25
Place of loss : off Amherst Isl., near Kingston, Ont.
Lake : Ontario
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : 5 [all]
Carrying : feldspar
Detail : Bound Kingston for Buffalo. Foundered in heavy seas. Two brave rescue attempts by onlookers failed. The ship was heavily overloaded with 700 t. of cargo.
Reg. out of Toronto. Sold Canadian in 1915
Sunk and was a major salvage job near Detour in '86. 1 died.
Major repair, 1882, enlarged at that time.
Wreck located in 1963.
Sources: csqw,mv,polk,win,nsp,mmgl,ns2,is,h,mpl,dmt,do

 

ALICE COFFEE
Other names : ?
Official no. : ?
Type at loss : schooner, wood
Build info : ?
Specs : ?
Date of loss : ?
Place of loss : near Detour, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : "lost"
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : no detail
Sources: lhdc not in mmgl

 

COLFAX
Other names : none
Official no. : ?
Type at loss : schooner-barge, wood
Build info : (1865, Bay City, MI)
Specs : (82x21x5 58t)
Date of loss : 1870
Place of loss : near Detour, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : Sank in a gale, no detail.
Shown in hgl as "Schuyler Colfax" (there was another SCHUYLER COLFAX)
Not in '69 mvus - probably has a "1st" name
Sources: slh,hgl,vbs

 

CREAM CITY
Other names : none
Official no. : 4579
Type at loss : bark, wood, 3-mast*
Build info : 1862, B.B. Jones, Sheboygan [fitted out at Milwaukee]
Specs : 629 t. [767 t. old measure]
Date of loss : 1869, Nov 22
Place of loss : Drummond Isl, 6 mi E of Detour
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : none
Carrying : wheat
Detail : Lost her way in a gale and went ashore. She appeared to be only slightly damaged, but several large pumps were unable to lower the water in her hull. Abandoned as a total wreck on Dec 8.
Owned by Fitzgerald & Page of Milwaukee
Ashore near Milwaukee in April, 1864.
*Built as a "steam bark" with an engine capable of pushing her at five or six miles per hour. After two months of contant minor disaster, this was considered an unsuccessful experiment and the engine was removed.
Sources: nsp,hgl,mv,mpl,mdwl

 

ELIZABETH
Other names : none
Official no. : 36201
Type at loss : scow-schooner, wood
Build info : 1866, Swan Creek, MI
Specs : 51x16x4 23 t.
Date of loss : 1882, fall
Place of loss : near Detour, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : coal
Detail : She was sunk by a gale near the entrance to the St. Mary's R. She was abandoned a several efforts to release her failed. Her document was surrendered at Port Huron Dec 15, 1883, annotated "wrecked."
Also stranded on Georgian Bay in 1872 and recovered.
Sources: mv,slh,h,phr,jb

 

GEORGE H. ELY
Other names : none
Official no. : 85147
Type at loss : barge or schooner-barge, wood
Build info : 1871, E. Fitzgerald, Port Huron, MI
Specs : 181x33x13, 649 gt
Date of loss : 1882, Oct
Place of loss : near Detour, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : coal
Detail : Tow of tug J.W. BENNETT, she swamped and sank in shallow water. Later she broke in two and was given up as a total loss Nov 10.
Sources: nsp,slh,phr,hgl

 

N.K. FAIRBANK
Other names : also shown as N.K. FAIRBANKS
Official no. : 130033
Type at loss : propeller, wood, freighter
Build info : 1875, W. Morley, Marine City
Specs : 205x37x11 980g 831n
Date of loss : 1895, May 3
Place of loss : Morgan Point, near Port Colborne. Ont.
Lake : Erie
Type of loss : fire
Loss of life : none
Carrying : corn
Detail : Bound Chicago for Ogdensburg, NY, she ran aground in smoke, then caught fire and "burned up." Declared a total loss., but later recovered by Canadians, rebuilt as ELIZA H. STRONG(qv)
Location also given as Potaganissing Bay, 8 mi from Detour, MI
Also heavily damaged in fire on Lake Erie in 1885.
Sources: nsp,ledc,lhdc,slh,wb,hgl

 

J.C. FORD
Other names : none
Official no. : C150335
Type at loss : propeller, wood, bulk freight, lumber
Build info : 1889, J. Collister, Grand Haven, MI US#76807
Specs : 172x33x12 432gc
Date of loss : 1924, Nov 26
Place of loss : near Little Trout I.,a few miles NE of Detour, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : fire
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : (lumber)?
Detail : Caught fire and totally destroyed.
Sold Canadian 1923. Out of Soo, Ont.
Sources: slh,nh3,mv,lhdc,mmgl,win,mpl

 

FOSTORIA
Other names : none
Official no. : 9534
Type at loss : schooner-barge, wood, 2-mast
Build info : 1865, Flint, Black R., OH
Specs : 124x27x8 238g 226n
Date of loss : 1901, May 10
Place of loss : near Port Huron, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : ice
Loss of life : 2
Carrying : coal
Detail : She collided head-on with a late season ice floe in fog. She stove in her bows, causing her to sink very quickly. She had been in tow of the steamer ANNIE LAURA.
Also heavily damaged in a grounding near Detour, MI, in 1874 when she plunged into a rock in heavy seas and sank in 3 minutes.
Major repairs in 1874 and 83.
Sources: slh,ns1,nsp,h

 

GARDEN CITY
Other names : none
Official no. : none
Type at loss : sidewheel steamer, wood, passenger & package freight
Build info : 1853, Bidwell & Banta, Buffalo
Specs : 218x30x11, 657 t. [om]
Date of loss : 1854, May (about the 15th)
Place of loss : on Martin Reef, W of Detour, MI, Straits
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : (storm)
Loss of life : none
Carrying : ?
Detail : Went on the reef and wrecked while bound Chicago for the Soo. Her passengers were picked up by the steamer QUEEN CITY. She was stripped by a schooner by the 24th, and her anchor and chains salvaged by the schooner MONTEATH in July.
Machinery later recovered.
Sources: eas,slh,lhdc,hgl,nsp,wl

 

GENERAL
Other names : none
Official no. : 86498
Type at loss : propeller steam tug, wood
Build info : 1900, Jas. Davidson, W. Bay City
Specs : 98x24x10 132g 70n
Date of loss : 1930, Apr 7
Place of loss : Detour, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : fire
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : none
Detail : Destroyed by fire. Owned by T. L. Durocher.
Also wrecked in a collision with the Canadian freighter ATHABASCA(qv) at the mouth of Georgian Bay, Nov 30, 1910. Both vessels foundered. GENERAL was recovered and rebuilt by T.L. Durocher of Detour 9 YEARS later.
Sources: eas,lhdc,sbs,vbs,slh,is,win,mpl

 

GRECIAN
Other names : none
Official no. : 86136
Type at loss : propeller, steel, bulk freight
Build info : 1891, Globe Iron Works, Cleveland
Specs : 296x40x21 2348g 1875n
Date of loss : 1906, Jun 15
Place of loss : off Thunder Bay, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : foundered
Loss of life : none
Carrying : none
Detail : Grounded near Detour, northern L. Huron June 7. After her cargo was removed she made for Ecorse for repairs, relying on the air pressure in her sealed holds to keep her afloat, but filled and sank enroute. Her crew was rescued by her fleetmate SIR HENRY BESSEMER.
She was a Pittsburger, sunk not far from her sister NORMAN.
Sources: eas,stb,is,slh,ns1,lhdc,nsp,mpl

 

G.R. GREEN
Other names : also seen as GEORGE R. GREEN
Official no. : 85390
Type at loss : propeller steam tug, wood
Build info : 1874, Penny, Milwaukee
Specs : 48x11x5 18g 12n
Date of loss : 1915, Jun 7
Place of loss : off the lighthouse at Detour, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : foundered
Loss of life : none
Carrying : none
Detail : Foundered, no detail available.
Built as a fishing tug, not known if she still was at time of loss.
Sources: slh,mv,mv

 

HARRIET A. HART
Other names : built as bulk freighter R.C. REID, renamed CITY OF LOUISVILLE in 1896, last renamed in 1902
Official no. : 110824
Type at loss : propeller, wood, passenger & package freight
Build info : 1889, Jas. Elliott, Saugatuck, MI
Specs : 178x32x19, 554 t.*
Date of loss : 1905, Jun 15
Place of loss : 3 mi S of Detour Light
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : fire
Loss of life : none
Carrying : ?
Detail : Bound Mackinac Isl. for Detour, she caught fire, burned to the waterline and sank.
Owned by Green Bay Transportation Co. of Green Bay
*built as a 129x26x10 460g 337n steambarge, lengthened, converted to passenger & pkg freighter in 1896.
Sources: lssc,slh,is,ns1,nsp,mpl

 

GRACE HOLLAND
Other names : none
Official no. : 39633
Type at loss : schooner-barge, wood, 2-mast
Build info : 1880, D. Lester, Marine City
Specs : 189x33x14 629g 598n
Date of loss : 1918, Jul 1
Place of loss : Wheeler's Reef, near False Detour Passage
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : fog
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : When her tow vessel, the steamer CREAM CITY(qv), went ashore in fog, GRACE HOLLAND was dragged along to disaster. She was a total loss.
Sources: eas,mv,vbs,is,ns2,slh,mv,mpl

 

MICHIGAN CENTRAL
Other names : none
Official no. : 91652
Type at loss : barge, iron, bulk freight (pulpwood)
Build info : 1884, Detroit Dry Dock, Wyandotte hull# 65 as sw carferry
Specs : 263x46*x18, 1522 g
Date of loss : 1926, Oct 27
Place of loss : False Detour Channel entrance, Cockburn Isl.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : hull failure
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : stone
Detail : She foundered from unknown causes. Her crew taken off by the Durocher tug GENERAL (qv) which was towing her.
Owned by T.L. Durocher of Detour at time of loss.
Reduced from a 21-car carferry to a barge in 1923.
*76 ft over guards
Remains were reportedly still visible in 1994
Sources: radio,atl,is,ns3,cfgl,lhdc,mpl,eas

 

MINNEHAHA
Other names : none
Official no. : 91220
Type at loss : schooner, wood, 4-mast
Build info : 1880, Linn & Craig, Gibraltar, MI
Specs : 200x35x15, 823g 782n
Date of loss : 1893, Oct 14
Place of loss : At Starke, MI, 10 mi N of Onekama
Lake : Michigan
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : 6 of 7
Carrying : corn
Detail : Tow of steamer HENRY J. JOHNSON, she was caught in 90mph northerly gale, broke loose and put on beach to save her crew. She later broke up there. Bound Chicago for Port Edward. Out of Cleveland
Wrecked near Detour in 1891 and stayed on the rocks all winter after being abandoned.
Sources: sol,h,mv,nsp,wb,hgl

 

PHILIP
Other names : built as prop ODD FELLOW, had another name as well
Official no. : 155238
Type at loss : propeller ferry, wood
Build info : 1893, Grand Haven, MI
Specs : 59x22x7, 54g 37n
Date of loss : 1933, Mar 20
Place of loss : at Detour, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : fire
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : none
Detail : Burned to a total loss.
She was a Drummond Isl. ferry owned by Durocher of Detour.
Sources: mv,rkr,slh,eas

 

PRINCE OF WALES
Other names : ?
Official no. : (C)
Type at loss : schooner, wood
Build info : ?
Specs : ?
Date of loss : 1835
Place of loss : near Detour, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : ?
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : Sunk. No detail.
Sources: slh not in mmgl

 

JOHN C. PRINGLE
Other names : (probably refers to prop built as W.H. GRATWICK)
Official no. : (80777)
Type at loss : schooner, wood,
Build info : (1880, Detroit Dry Dock, Wyandotte, hull# 38)
Specs : (174x31x12, 474g 389n)
Date of loss : unreported
Place of loss : at Big Trout Isl., N of Detour Passage, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : unreported
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : Shown as a schooner "lost." This is probably a misreporting of an accident to the steamer shown, which survived for many years.
Sources: lhdc

 

DAVID PROVOST
Other names : none
Official no. : 6384
Type at loss : schooner, wood
Build info : 1864, Squires, Huron, OH
Specs : 89x22x7, 99 t.
Date of loss : 1887, Sep 12
Place of loss : near Detour, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : brick
Detail : She foundered, a total loss. She was bound for S.S. Marie, probably from the Saginaw River. She was raised twice, but lost again each time and finally remained on the bottom
Rebuilt, 1881
Sources: polk,phr,nsp,mv,slh,hgl

 

REBECCA
Other names : none
Official no. : 21141
Type at loss : schooner, wood, 2-mast
Build info : 1853, Gilmore, Toledo, OH
Specs : 112x23x10, 193 t.
Date of loss : 1872, Sep
Place of loss : near Alabaster, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : none
Carrying : none
Detail : She had stranded near Detour the previous year. She had been removed and was being towed south by a tug when she was torn loose in a gale and thrown ashore. She was thought to be a total loss and is often reported as such, but two Bay City Captains bought and recovered her in 1873 and put her back in service. Gone from registry by 1883.
Ashore on Kelley's Island for five weeks in 1868.
Also sunk after striking a rock in Detour Passage in May of 1860. Repaired the following year.
Sources: phr,slh,nsp,hgl,rsl

 

RUSSIA
Other names : none
Official no. : 110063
Type at loss : propeller, iron, package freight
Build info : 1872, King Iron Works, Buffalo
Specs : 232x36x13, 1502g 1335n
Date of loss : 1909, Apr 30
Place of loss : near Detour
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : none (two sources say 13 were lost)
Carrying : cement,dry goods & thousands of rubber overshoes
Detail : Her hull fractured in a terrific storm and she sank.
Twin-screw. Sister of SCOTIA, JAVA & CUBA
Some sources say another vessel of this name was lost near the same spot in 1860.
Sources: rkr,mv,ns1,nsp,slh,sol,is,mpl,eas

 

SADDLEBAG
Other names : ?
Official no. : ?
Type at loss : unreported
Build info : ?
Specs : ?
Date of loss : unreported
Place of loss : 6 mi W of Detour, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : stranded
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : ?
Detail : no detail
Sources: lhdc, not in mmgl

 

SEA GULL
Other names : none
Official no. : 22098
Type at loss : propeller steam wrecking tug, wood
Build info : 1863, Mystic, Conn as a brig
Specs : 147x34x16, 521g 242n
Date of loss : 1893, May 1
Place of loss : near Bois Blanc Isl., Straits
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : fire
Loss of life : none
Carrying : none
Detail : Bound Detour for Chicago with the damaged prop OHIO in tow, she caught fire offshore near Spectacle Reef and burned to a total loss. Her crew made it to OHIO in her yawl. She was later towed to a point near Bois Blanc and resunk. SEA GULL was reportedly the largest tug on the lakes when lost and was owned by the famous wrecker Jim Reid. Her two engines were later recovered - one going into the big wrecker MANISTIQUE and the other into the tug PARKER.
Wreckage located in 1970's.
Came to Lakes from the E Coast in 1888, sunk by a collision enroute. The twin-prop vessel was re-engined in the spring of 1891.
Sources: ssm,lhl,mv,nsp,slh,hgl,mpl,wmn,eas

 

SENATOR BLOOD
Other names : none
Official no. : 22918
Type at loss : schooner, wood
Build info : 1863, G. Goble, Oswego, NY
Specs : 127x26x10, 231g 219n
Date of loss : 1896, Nov 13
Place of loss : Goose Isl., Straits
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : coal
Detail : Bound Cleveland for Detour, she went aground and became a total wreck in a gale. Owned by T.H. Cahoon of Cleveland.
Wrecked near Lorain, OH and recovered in 1893
Had been abandoned for age in 1891, but returned to service.
Sources: hgl,tel,mv,osdo,eas

 

ELIZA H. STRONG
Other names : built as N.K. FAIRBANK [US#130033], renamed in 1899
Official no. : 136733
Type at loss : propeller, wood, bulk freight "lumber hooker"
Build info : 1874, W. Morley, Marine City, MI
Specs : 205x37x11, 980g 831n
Date of loss : 1904, Oct 25
Place of loss : .8 mi SE of Huron St. dock, Lexington, MI
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : fire
Loss of life : none
Carrying : lumber, barge
Detail : She caught fire 25 miles off shore and was abandoned by her crew in the yawl. STRONG was picked up by the steamer CITY OF HOLLAND and towed in to shallow water while still ablaze. There she burned to the waterline.
Nearly destroyed in another fire near Detour, 1895.
Overwhelmed and abandoned in gale in 1901, but later found, still afloat.
Sources: polk,rkr,mv,ns1,glp,is(1-71)ms,gwgl,slh,sol,mpl

 

SUPERIOR
Other names : built as sloop MENTOR, renamed in 1916
Official no. : 91378
Type at loss : propeller, wood, bulk freight sandsucker
Build info : 1881, A. Johnson, Fort Howard, WI
Specs : 138x26x13,*
Date of loss : 1929, Jun 11
Place of loss : Detour Channel, St. Mary's R.
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : fire
Loss of life : none
Carrying : ?
Detail : She struck a bar, caught fire and was destroyed.
Listed as a steam lighter in 1910 mvus
*118x26x9, 304g 257n after conversion to prop in 1887
Mpl shows her as US#214461 built 1916 Marine City, MI, this nmay refer to her conversion
Enlarged and converted to sandsucker in 1916
Sources: mv,polk,ns3,slh,lhdc,mpl,eas

 

THORNTON
Other names : none
Official no. : 24105
Type at loss : schooner, wood
Build info : 1853, Bidwell & Banta, Buffalo
Specs : 274gt.
Date of loss : 1870, Aug 26
Place of loss : 15 mi SE of False Detour passage
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : storm
Loss of life : none
Carrying : ore
Detail : She sprang a leak in heavy weather and foundered near the foot of Cockburn Isl.. Her crew took to the yawl and watched as the schooner broke up due to the release of confined air in the hull and went down. It was claimed that she was very unseaworthy at time of loss
Out of Buffalo or Cleveland
Damaged in a collison on L. Huron in 1860.
Also reported to have wrecked on L. Michigan in 1850(!) with loss of life.
Major repairs in 1862
Sources: mv,slh,hgl,nsp

 

NELLIE TORRENT
Other names : none
Official no. : 130206
Type at loss : propeller, wood, bulk freight
Build info : 1881, Detroit Dry Dock, Wyandotte, MI hull# 52
Specs : 141x29x11, 303g 277n
Date of loss : 1899, Jun 22
Place of loss : abreast of Pte Au Frame, near Detour
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : fire
Loss of life : none
Carrying : lumber
Detail : She caught fire in her hold and burned to total wreck. She was beached near Lime Island and abandoned.
Owned out of Bay City by G. Jackson.
Sources: mv,atl,polk,nsp,slh,hdm,phr,mpl

 
               
 
 
 
 
625 Ontario St, POBox 416, DeTour Village, MI 49725      Phone: 906-297-2400
 
Hosts: Gary and Janelle Dudeck  
  
 
Email: lodging@riverbendresort.com  

 

                     
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