Identification & Site Information

  • Name: MARY ALICE
  • Year Built: 1866
  • Built at: Likely a Great Lakes port (specific location not recorded)
  • Vessel Type: Schooner
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Number of Decks: 1
  • Number of Masts: 2 (typical for a vessel of this type, though not explicitly stated)

Dimensions

  • Exact measurements unrecorded, but typical small lumber Schooner of the era would have been approximately 20–30 m (65–100 ft) in length, 5–7 m (16–23 ft) beam, 2–3 m (6–10 ft) depth

Vessel Type Description

The MARY ALICE was a small wooden Schooner likely engaged in the short-haul lumber or cordwood trade, typical for the Great Lakes in the mid–late 19th century. These vessels were prized for their shallow Draft, making them effective for working near shore and in small harbours.

History

Built in 1866, the MARY ALICE operated as a small carrier on the lakes, transporting wood products. On 14 July 1884, she was caught in a sudden squall, capsized, and Foundered. Despite the assistance of the Tug HERCULES, the Schooner could not be saved and went down at approximately noon. There is no mention of casualties, but the loss was considered complete.

Final Disposition

  • Final Location: Presumed to have sunk in Lake Michigan, precise coordinates not recorded
  • Date Lost: 14 July 1884
  • Final Cargo: Wood
  • How Lost: Capsized in squall

Located By & Date

No documented modern discovery or archaeological survey reported.

NOTMARs & Advisories

None noted.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No confirmed wreck location is recorded, and there are no reports of subsequent salvage or archaeological identification.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The MARY ALICE is representative of the many modest-sized lumber schooners that plied the Great Lakes. Her rapid loss in a squall underscores the ever-present danger of sudden storms on the lakes, which often overcame lightly ballasted wood carriers.

Keywords: Schooner, Lake Michigan, lumber carrier, squall, capsizing, 19th-century shipping