Shipwreck Report: GEORGE C. DREW (1848)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: GEORGE C. DREW
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: None
• Type at Loss: Scow-Schooner, Wood, 2-Mast
• Date Built and Launched: 1848
• Builder: F.N. & B.B. Jones, Avon, Ohio
• Measurements: 94 ft (28.7 m) length, 22 ft (6.7 m) beam, 7 ft (2.1 m) depth; 131 tons
• Date Lost: August 10, 1866
• Place of Loss: Big Charity Island, Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

Vessel Type

Wooden 2-Masted Scow-Schooner (Lumber Carrier)

Description

The GEORGE C. DREW was a wooden, two-masted scow-schooner, built in 1848 by F.N. & B.B. Jones in Avon, Ohio. Scow-schooners were flat-bottomed sailing vessels, well-suited for carrying bulk cargoes such as lumber, particularly in shallow waters like those of Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay.

At 94 feet in length and 131 tons, the GEORGE C. DREW was a medium-sized Schooner used primarily for transporting lumber from Michigan forests to markets in Chicago and beyond.

Owned by Nichols of Chicago, she operated in the Great Lakes lumber trade, a booming industry in the mid-19th century, as cities expanded and relied on timber from Michigan’s forests.

History

During the mid-19th century, scow-schooners were an essential part of Great Lakes commerce, particularly for the transportation of lumber. The GEORGE C. DREW was one of many such vessels that sailed between Saginaw, Chicago, and other Great Lakes ports, carrying loads of timber to support the region’s rapid expansion.

On August 10, 1866, the GEORGE C. DREW was laden with a cargo of lumber and bound from Saginaw for Chicago when she encountered a storm in Saginaw Bay. The vessel ran aground on a reef near Big Charity Island, a hazardous area for shipping due to numerous shallow spots and rocky outcroppings.

Despite efforts to save her Hull, the vessel was wrecked. However, the crew managed to salvage her cargo and ship’s equipment before abandoning the wreck.

Reports do not mention any loss of life, indicating that the crew likely escaped safely.

Final Disposition

Wrecked on a reef near Big Charity Island, Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, on August 10, 1866, due to a storm. The cargo and ship’s outfit were salvaged, but the Hull was declared a Total Loss. No loss of life reported.

Located By & Date Found

Nil—there are no confirmed reports of the GEORGE C. DREW‘s wreck being located. However, the Big Charity Island reef area remains a known shipwreck zone in Lake Huron.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil—no current navigational advisories related to the GEORGE C. DREW wreck site.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• NOAA Great Lakes Shipwrecks

Conclusion

The GEORGE C. DREW is an example of the many scow-schooners that played a critical role in the 19th-century lumber trade on the Great Lakes. Her grounding on Big Charity Island in 1866 highlights the dangers of navigating Saginaw Bay, a region known for shallow waters and hidden reefs.

Though her cargo and equipment were salvaged, the vessel was declared a Total Loss, marking the end of an 18-year career. While the wreck has not been located, it remains a potential site for maritime archaeologists and divers interested in Great Lakes shipping history.

The loss of the GEORGE C. DREW was one of many similar incidents involving Great Lakes schooners, underscoring the harsh and unpredictable nature of sailing on the inland seas.

Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

• Keywords: GEORGE C. DREW shipwreck, Big Charity Island shipwreck, Saginaw Bay scow-Schooner, Lake Huron lumber Schooner, Nichols of Chicago shipowner
• Categories: Lake Huron Shipwrecks, Scow-Schooners, Lumber Trade Vessels, Storm-Related Shipwrecks, 19th Century Maritime Disasters
• Glossary Terms:
• Scow-Schooner: A flat-bottomed sailing vessel used for carrying bulk cargoes, particularly useful in shallow waters.
• Reef Grounding: When a vessel runs aground on an underwater ridge or rock formation, often leading to catastrophic Hull damage.
• Saginaw Bay: A large bay on Lake Huron, known for its hazardous waters and numerous shipwrecks, particularly near Big Charity Island.