Identification & Site Information
- Name: Homer Ramsdell
- Vessel Type: Two‑masted wooden clipper‑rigged Schooner
- Built: 1853 by F.N. & B.B. Jones, Buffalo, New York
- Dimensions: Approx. 119 ft length × 26 ft beam × 10 ft depth; 276‑ton vessel (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, search.library.wisc.edu)
- Cargo: Lumber and included a Worthington steam pump valued at $1,400 on board during final voyage
- Final Voyage & Loss Date: November 6, 1856
- Location: Went ashore on North Manitou Island, Lake Michigan, after Hull failure during a storm (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Vessel Type
The Homer Ramsdell was a fast clipper‑rigged Schooner—built for speed and efficiency, commonly used in mid‑19th‑century lumber transport on the Great Lakes. Its sleek design featured two tall masts and refined lines to navigate lake winds effectively.
Description
With a length of 119 ft and shallow 10 ft Draft, she carried sizable cargoes of lumber. The addition of a Worthington steam pump indicates preparation for heavy-duty voyages and emergency preparedness.
History
Built in Buffalo in 1853, Homer Ramsdell operated primarily in the lumber trade. Over three years, she made routine runs across Lake Michigan, transporting timber to markets in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
Final Disposition
On November 6, 1856, during a winter storm, her Hull failed near North Manitou Island. The steam pump was quickly overwhelmed; the vessel sprang leaks, took on water, and grounded. Though the crew reached shore, the Schooner soon Foundered in deep water and was lost (shotlinediving.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Located By & Date Found
Her loss was immediately recorded on November 6, 1856. The Hull sank in deep water off North Manitou; no documented rediscovery or wreck survey exists.
NOTMARs & Advisories
No Notices to Mariners were issued at the time, and no navigation markers were ever placed. Debris and submerged remains are presumed buried offshore, posing negligible hazard today.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (R section) – complete record of clipper-Schooner, storm loss, cargo details, crew survival (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
The Homer Ramsdell (built 1853) exemplified mid-19th-century clipper-Schooner design tailored for lumber haulage on the Great Lakes. On 6 November 1856, it suffered catastrophic Hull failure in a storm off North Manitou Island, Lake Michigan. While the crew survived, the vessel Foundered in deep water and no traceable wreck site remains. This incident illustrates the risks early wooden schooners faced as Great Lakes shipping expanded in the mid-1800s.
Suggested Keywords & Glossary
Keywords: #HomerRamsdell #ClipperSchooner #LumberTrade #HullFailure #NorthManitou #LakeMichiganWreck
Glossary: clipper‑rigged Schooner, Worthington steam pump, Hull failure, grounding, deep‑water wreck.