Red Bird Line

The “Red Bird” Line

The “Red Bird” Line was a fleet of sailing vessels, primarily schooners, that operated on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. The name likely refers to a group of commonly owned or associated vessels, rather than an official company name. These ships were often involved in the lumber trade, grain transport, and general cargo shipping across Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario.

Significance & Operations

• The line was known for its distinctive vessels, some of which reportedly had a “peculiar rig,” as mentioned in accounts of the schooner HAMILTON (lost in 1873).
• Many ships in the “Red Bird” Line were wooden schooners, a common design for the era, ideal for hauling bulk cargo such as lumber, coal, and grain.
• The fleet’s routes connected major Great Lakes ports, including Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Oswego, Buffalo, and Kingston.

Notable Ships Associated with the “Red Bird” Line

• HAMILTON (1847) – A wooden schooner that foundered in Lake Michigan in 1873 after a fierce storm, with the crew surviving a 33-hour struggle to reach shore.
• Other possible vessels – While records do not explicitly list additional ships, it is likely that multiple similar schooners operated under the “Red Bird” name, carrying timber and bulk goods during the mid-to-late 19th century.

Decline & Legacy

By the late 19th century, many wooden schooners were being phased out in favor of larger, steam-powered vessels. It is likely that the “Red Bird” Line ceased to exist as an identifiable entity as ships were either lost, scrapped, or absorbed into larger shipping companies.

Today, the exact history of the “Red Bird” Line remains obscure, with references appearing mostly in wreck reports and historical shipping records.