Identification & Site Information:

• Name: ABBIE
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 106407
• Type at Loss: Schooner, wood, 2-mast
• Year Built: 1886
• Builder: Ludington, Michigan
• Specifications: Length: 88 ft (26.8 m) Beam: 22 ft (6.7 m) Depth: 6 ft (1.8 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 88 tons
• Net Tonnage: 83 tons
• Date of Loss: November 8, 1905
• Place of Loss: Portage Lake entry, near Manistee, Michigan
• Lake: Lake Michigan
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo: Bark (likely used in the tanning industry)

Vessel Type:

The ABBIE was a wooden, two-masted schooner, a common design for cargo transport on the Great Lakes during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Schooners were especially suited for smaller ports and inland waters, carrying everything from lumber and coal to agricultural products and industrial goods like Bark, which was used extensively in leather tanning.

Description:

Built in 1886 in Ludington, Michigan, the ABBIE served as a small cargo Schooner, operating primarily on Lake Michigan. With its modest size, the vessel could easily navigate coastal routes and smaller harbors around the lake. At the time of its final voyage, the ABBIE was carrying a load of Bark, a valuable commodity in the tanning industry, from Beaver Island to Milwaukee.

History:

For nearly two decades, the ABBIE was an active participant in the Great Lakes maritime trade, contributing to the bustling lumber and industrial goods transportation industries that defined the region during this era. The vessel likely carried various cargoes between ports in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois, often navigating the challenging waters of Lake Michigan.

A notable photograph of the ABBIE was taken in Sheboygan, Wisconsin in 1901, capturing the Schooner in its operational prime. This image reflects the vessel’s integral role in regional commerce, connecting small towns and industrial hubs across the Great Lakes.

Final Disposition:

On November 8, 1905, the ABBIE encountered a violent storm while en route from Beaver Island to Milwaukee. Near the Portage Lake entry close to Manistee, Michigan, the Schooner was driven ashore by strong winds and heavy waves. The crew of four was successfully rescued thanks to the lightkeeper and the efforts of the Manistee Lifesaving Service.

Despite the crew’s survival, the vessel’s fate was sealed. The force of the storm and the pounding waves caused the ABBIE to break apart rapidly, and she went to pieces within a few hours of grounding. The wreck was considered a Total Loss.

It is important to note that some historical accounts mistakenly report the ABBIE’s loss near the Keweenaw Peninsula in Lake Superior. However, reliable sources confirm that the vessel was indeed lost on Lake Michigan near Manistee.

Located By & Date Found:

Nil returns – There are no reports of the wreck’s discovery or surveys conducted at the site.

Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) & Advisories:

Nil returns – No current navigational advisories or obstructions related to the wreck have been issued.

Resources & Links:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Bowling Green State University Historical Collections

Conclusion:

The ABBIE exemplifies the numerous small schooners that played a vital role in the Great Lakes’ economic development during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its tragic loss near Manistee underscores the perils faced by mariners, even on relatively short and familiar routes. While the vessel’s remains have yet to be located, the story of the ABBIE and the heroic rescue of its crew remain part of the rich maritime heritage of Lake Michigan.

Tags & Keywords:

#GreatLakesShipwrecks #LakeMichigan #Schooner #ManisteeMI #PortageLake #MaritimeHistory #GreatLakesTrade #StormWreck