EDWARD E. SKEELE (Launched 1856)

Identification & Site Information

  • Wreck Name: Edward E. Skeele
  • Type: Wooden Schooner-Barge
  • Year built and launched: 1856
  • Vessel measurements: Approx. 46 m length (150 ft), typical beam around 8.5 m (28 ft), depth about 3.7 m (12 ft) — consistent with Schooner-barges of the era
  • Date lost: 25 September 1921
  • Location: Near Barrie Island, North Channel, Lake Huron

Vessel Type

The Edward E. Skeele was a wooden Schooner-Barge, originally rigged as a Schooner but later adapted for towing. Schooner-barges were common on the Great Lakes after the 1870s, allowing a Steamer to tow multiple cargo barges with minimal crews.

Description

Built in 1856 as a wooden sailing Schooner, she was later converted to Schooner-Barge service, probably with most of her rig reduced. Like many of her type, she had a large cargo hold for bulk commodities, oak frames, pine planking, and a shallow Draft suited for lake harbours.

History

The Edward E. Skeele worked in the grain, lumber, and general bulk trades throughout her long career. She was one of many older wooden vessels that continued in service into the early 20th century as tow-barges, even after iron and steel ships became dominant.

On 25 September 1921, while under tow in the North Channel near Barrie Island (near the entrance to the North Channel from Lake Huron), a storm drove the vessel onto a reef. Heavy pounding in the waves damaged the Hull severely, and eventually she slipped off the reef into 24 feet (7.3 m) of water and sank. There was no cargo loss reported, nor were there casualties, since Schooner-barges typically carried very few crew.

Final Dispositions

Declared a Total Loss after slipping off the reef and settling in shallow water. No record exists of salvage or refloating attempts.

Located By & Date Found

The Edward E. Skeele has not been formally located by divers or sonar teams in modern times, although the approximate area is well documented near Barrie Island.

NOTMARs & Advisories

None noted.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The loss of the Edward E. Skeele marks the end of a long working Schooner-Barge typical of mid-19th century construction still active into the 1920s. Her grounding and final sinking near Barrie Island illustrate both the hazards of navigating the North Channel and the extended working lives of wooden Schooner-barges on the Great Lakes.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

  • Schooner-Barge
  • Wooden vessel
  • Barrie Island
  • North Channel
  • Lake Huron
  • Great Lakes shipwrecks
  • Storm loss
  • 19th-century ships
  • Maritime history