Identification & Site Information

  • Name: George Dana
  • Built: 1869, likely in Algonac, Michigan
  • Type: Wooden two-masted Schooner, used for lumber transport
  • Loss Date: September 1, 1876
  • Final Voyage: Departed Bay City, Michigan, bound for Detroit, under tow by the Steamship Dubuque
  • Wreck Location: Driven ashore near Alabaster (alternatively cited as Saginaw Bay shoreline) during a gale; Hull subsequently broke up
  • Cargo: Lumber
  • Crew Casualties: None reported — crew survived, and cargo was salvaged by Tug Winslow (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Census)

Incident & Final Disposition

  • During a late-season gale on September 1, George Dana parted loose from her tow alongside Dubuque and was battered ashore on a rocky shoreline near Alabaster, Michigan.
  • She was pounded until breaking up, though much of her lumber cargo was later recovered by Tug Winslow (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • Official records identify her owner as Amelia Dana of Algonac.

Archival & Research Gaps

  • Construction Details: Yard, exact dimensions, tonnage, and official registration number—check enrollment in U.S. Customs or Coast Guard District (Michigan).
  • Tow Arrangement: Details of the commercial agreement between Dubuque, the Tug Winslow, and the Schooner—likely located in maritime business ledgers or shipping logs.
  • Weather Analysis: Meteorological data for early September 1876 to contextualize storm conditions.
  • Crew & Ownership Records: Crew manifest, ownership logs, and any personal ties to Amelia Dana.
  • Newspaper & Court Reports: 1876 Michigan newspapers (Bay City Times, Detroit Free Press) may have detailed accounts, weather story, or salvage actions.

Wreck & Exploration Potential

  • Likely Wreck Zone: Shoreline near Alabaster or Saginaw Bay—shallow water, now probably dismantled or buried by beach processes.
  • Physical Remains: Given powerful waves and salvage operations, the wreckage field likely contains remnants of Keel, fastenings, iron fittings, and scattered debris.
  • Survey Proposal:
    • Archival cartography: Historic shoreline maps to locate scuttling site.
    • Magnetometer reconnaissance: Identifying subsurface iron debris buried offshore.
    • Shoreline dive/shoreline walk: With tidal movements, structural fragments may be exposed seasonally.
    • Local interviews: Long-term residents or diaries might offer anecdotal details on wrecking events.

Significance

  • George Dana is an early example of the dangerous towing practices during the transition between sail and steam in Great Lakes commerce.
  • The loss highlights owner Amelia Dana’s involvement in shipping—a relatively rare 19th-century female proprietor in maritime trade.
  • The successful salvage of lumber after grounding speaks to local maritime resourcefulness and organized salvage operations.

Recommended Next Steps

  • Archive Research:
    • Enrollment and tonnage documentation at the U.S. Customs or Customs House records for mid‑Michigan District
    • Ownership details—document deed or registry under Amelia Dana
  • Newspaper Searches:
    • Bay City and Detroit papers from September 1876 for weather, tow, wreck reportage
    • Shipping news columns that might note salvage sale or wreck condition
  • Weather Collections:
    • NOAA historical data for Gale Category events in early September 1876
  • Field Reconnaissance:
    • Shoreline surveys near Alabaster using magnetometer, and remote sensing to trace possible wreck fragments