The Wreck of the Henry Hager (1868)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Henry Hager (also seen as Henry Hagar)
• Official Number: 11137
• Type at Loss: Schooner, Wood
• Built: 1849, by Jones & Bagnall, Buffalo, NY
• Specifications: 174 tons (238 tons old measurement)
• Date of Loss: October 19, 1868
• Place of Loss: Near Harrisville, Michigan
• Lake: Huron
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo: Light
• Condition: Broke up over several days

Vessel Type

The Henry Hager was a wooden schooner built for transporting cargo across the Great Lakes. As a mid-19th-century sailing vessel, it was designed to haul various bulk materials, particularly lumber and general goods. Schooners like the Henry Hager were the workhorses of the Great Lakes shipping industry during this period.

Description

The Henry Hager was constructed in 1849 by Jones & Bagnall in Buffalo, New York. With a registered tonnage of 174 (238 old measurement), it was a sturdy, medium-sized Schooner. Over its nearly 20-year career, it primarily served in the timber trade, moving lumber and other materials from Michigan’s forests to growing industrial centers.

Like many ships of its era, the Henry Hager underwent substantial repairs, notably in 1861, ensuring its continued use despite the wear and tear of Great Lakes sailing. However, the treacherous conditions of Lake Huron ultimately sealed its fate.

Final Disposition

On October 19, 1868, while en route to Harrisville, Michigan, to pick up a load of lumber, the Henry Hager was caught in a violent storm. The vessel was driven ashore near its intended destination, where strong winds and relentless waves battered the Hull. Over the next several days, the Schooner broke apart, rendering it a Total Loss. Despite the wreck, no lives were lost.

The ship’s remains likely became part of the shifting sands along the shoreline of Michigan, a fate shared by many Great Lakes schooners lost in the 19th century.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return—There are no records indicating that the wreck of the Henry Hager has been found or identified in modern times.

NOTMARs & Advisories

There are no current navigational warnings or obstructions noted regarding this wreck.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Research
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Library & Archives Canada

Conclusion

The Henry Hager was a hardworking schooner that served the Great Lakes timber trade for nearly two decades. Its loss near Harrisville, Michigan, in 1868 is a reminder of the ever-present dangers of Lake Huron’s unpredictable weather. Today, its remains are likely buried beneath the shifting sands of the shoreline, lost to time.

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: Henry Hager shipwreck, Lake Huron schooners, 19th-century Great Lakes Ships, Harrisville Michigan wreck, schooner lost in storm.
Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Huron, 19th-century wooden schooners, Michigan maritime history, Great Lakes storms.