SHIPWRECK REPORT: DREDNAUGHT / GRENADA

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

• Name: DREDNAUGHT (also referred to as GRENADA)

• Type: Wooden-Hulled Schooner

• Location: Near Duncan City, Lake Michigan

• Coordinates: Not recorded

• Depth of Wreck: Within the Alger Underwater Preserve

CONSTRUCTION & SPECIFICATIONS

• Length: 150 feet (45.7 meters)

• Hull Material: Wood

• Cargo: Iron ore

HISTORY

The Schooner DREDNAUGHT, known by some as GRENADA, was a vessel constructed to carry bulk cargo, particularly iron ore, across the Great Lakes.

On December 2, 1875, the ship Foundered near Duncan City, Michigan, succumbing to the treacherous waters of Lake Michigan. The vessel’s wooden Hull and iron ore cargo settled on the lakebed, marking its place in the annals of Great Lakes maritime tragedies.

Disputes over the wreck’s name emerged in subsequent years, as historical records and divers debated its identity. Despite the confusion, the wreck is now known as part of the Alger Underwater Preserve, a renowned dive site celebrated for its shipwrecks.

SALVAGE ATTEMPTS

Following the wreck, Captain Nickerson of Cleveland spearheaded efforts to raise the vessel. The ship was successfully recovered and towed to the river for repairs. Fortunately, it was found to be largely intact, and the estimated cost for repairs was a mere $200—a modest amount for the era.

Despite these efforts, the ship’s fate remains unclear. It is unknown whether the vessel was restored to service or if it eventually met a second and final demise.

FINAL DISPOSITION

While the Schooner was temporarily raised and repaired, its ultimate fate has faded into history. Its legacy lives on as part of the underwater landscape of Lake Michigan, serving as a point of intrigue for divers and historians.

CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY

• Condition: The wreck of the DREDNAUGHT/GRENADA lies within the Alger Underwater Preserve, where it has become an iconic dive site. Its wooden Hull and remnants of its cargo offer a fascinating glimpse into 19th-century maritime life.

• Accessibility: The site is popular among divers and is accessible for exploration under proper dive conditions.

NOTES ON SOURCES

• Toronto Daily Globe, Wednesday, December 2, 1875

• Cleveland Herald, Friday, May 19, 1876

• Cleveland Herald, Monday, May 22, 1876

• Cleveland Herald, Monday, May 29, 1876

These periodicals provide valuable insights into the ship’s history, salvage attempts, and its enduring legacy.

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Alger Underwater Preserve: Explore More About the Preserve

• Historical Records: Cleveland Herald and Toronto Daily Globe archives

• Dive Shops and Charters: Local dive operators specializing in shipwreck exploration in the Alger Underwater Preserve

The DREDNAUGHT/GRENADA stands as a testament to the resilience of maritime communities and their determination to preserve the history and stories of the Great Lakes. It continues to capture the imagination of those who venture beneath the surface to uncover its mysteries.