Identification & Site Information

  • Name: William A. Young
  • Official Number: 62866
  • Date Built & Launched: 1883
  • Builder: D. Lester, Marine City, Michigan
  • Specifications: 165 ft x 30 ft x 11 ft (50.3 m x 9.1 m x 3.4 m), 435 gross tons, 413 net tons
  • Vessel Type: Wooden Schooner-Barge (originally a three-masted Schooner, later converted to a two-masted bulk freight Barge)
  • Date Lost: November 17, 1911
  • Place of Loss: Just north of Thunder Bay Island, Michigan, Lake Huron
  • Cause of Loss: Swamped and sank in a storm while under tow
  • Loss of Life: None
  • Cargo: Coal

Vessel Type

The William A. Young was originally built as a three-masted wooden Schooner but was later converted into a two-masted Schooner-Barge. It was towed by steam-powered freighters to transport bulk cargo such as coal, iron ore, and timber, a common practice in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This allowed non-powered sailing vessels to remain in service despite advancements in steam technology.

Description & History

Built in 1883 by D. Lester in Marine City, Michigan, the William A. Young was initially a three-masted Schooner, which was later converted into a Schooner-Barge to be used in Great Lakes bulk freight transport. By the early 1900s, many older schooners were stripped of their masts and converted into barges, allowing them to remain useful as cargo carriers under Steamship tow.

On November 17, 1911, the William A. Young was being towed by the Steamer Isabella J. Boyce, loaded with coal and headed across Lake Huron when it encountered a powerful storm near Thunder Bay Island, Michigan. The vessel was swamped by high waves and quickly sank. Fortunately, no lives were lost in the disaster.

Thunder Bay is part of the Alpena-Amberley Ridge, a region known as the “Shipwreck Alley” of the Great Lakes, due to its frequent storms and hazardous shallows.

Final Disposition

The William A. Young remains lost at the bottom of Lake Huron north of Thunder Bay Island. It is likely intact or partially broken up on the lakebed, given the cold, fresh water of the Great Lakes, which helps preserve wooden shipwrecks.

Located By & Date Found

• No confirmed discovery of the wreck has been documented.

• However, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary has over 200 documented shipwrecks, and the William A. Youngcould be among them.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Thunder Bay is a designated marine sanctuary protecting historic shipwrecks. Any remains of the vessel, if found, would be protected under U.S. maritime preservation laws.

No modern navigational hazards linked to this wreck have been reported.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The William A. Young was a classic example of Great Lakes schooners that were later converted into barges for continued use. Its sinking in 1911 during a storm while under tow illustrates the dangers of the region known as “Shipwreck Alley.” While no confirmed discovery has been made, the wreck likely lies somewhere near Thunder Bay Island, potentially well-preserved in Lake Huron’s cold waters.

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: Great Lakes schooners, Schooner-barges, Thunder Bay shipwrecks, Lake Huron maritime history, storm-related losses

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Huron, 19th-century shipwrecks, wooden Schooner-barges, bulk freight transport

Glossary Terms: Schooner-Barge, Tow Loss, Thunder Bay Shipwrecks, Coal Cargo Transport