Shipwreck Report: Mary Woolson (1888–1920)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: Mary Woolson 
• Official Number: 91988
• Vessel Type: Three-Masted Wooden Schooner-Barge
• Built: 1888, by James Davidson, West Bay City, Michigan (Hull #18)
• Final Location: 8 miles northeast of Sturgeon Point, near Harrisville, Michigan, Lake Huron
• Date Lost: July 8 or July 18, 1920 (Sources vary on the exact date)
• Cause: Collision – Rammed Stern of Steamer Charles D. Bradley while under tow
• Final Cargo: Unknown (Possibly bulk freight, as was common for Schooner-barges)
• Loss of Life: None – Crew rescued by the Steamer Huron
• Specifications
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Length: 179 feet (54.5 meters) Beam: 35 feet (10.7 meters) Depth: 13 feet (4 meters)
• Gross Tonnage: 709 gross tons,
• Net Tonnage 673 net tons
• Owner: Likely part of the Davidson fleet, West Bay City, Michigan
• Master at Loss: Unknown
• Towed by: Steamer Charles D. Bradley
• In Tow With: Schooner-Barge Miztec

Operational History

• The Mary Woolson was a large wooden three-masted Schooner-Barge built in 1888 by James Davidson in West Bay City, Michigan. She was one of many bulk freight Schooner-barges built by Davidson, designed for towing behind steamships.  These barges extended the carrying capacity of a Steamer, allowing for multiple vessels to move freight in a single tow. She likely hauled cargo such as coal, iron ore, or grain, which were the most common bulk goods transported on the Great Lakes.

By 1920, the Mary Woolson was over 30 years old, but still in service as a Schooner-Barge under tow.

Final Voyage & Loss (July 8 or 18, 1920)

 Towing Arrangement: The Mary Woolson was being towed by the Steamer Charles D. Bradley along with another Schooner-Barge, the Miztec. This type of “tow train” was common in the early 20th century, as steamers pulled multiple unpowered Schooner-barges to maximize efficiency.

Collision in Mid-Lake: While sailing northeast of Sturgeon Point, the Steamer Charles D. Bradley slowed suddenly for unknown reasons. The two barges following behind—Miztec and Mary Woolson—could not stop in time. Both barges rammed into the Stern of Charles D. Bradley, with Mary Woolson sustaining severe bow damage.

Sinking and Crew Rescue: The impact left Mary Woolson taking on water rapidly. Within a short time, she Foundered and sank in Lake Huron’s deep waters. Fortunately, the Steamer Huron arrived quickly on the scene, rescuing the entire crew of the barges.

Wreck Site and Potential Remains

• Location: 8 miles northeast of Sturgeon Point, near Harrisville, Michigan, Lake Huron
• Depth: Likely 100–200 feet (30–60 meters), depending on final sinking location
• Current Condition:
  • As a wooden vessel lost over a century ago, Mary Woolson has likely deteriorated significantly.
  • However, Lake Huron’s cold, fresh waters can preserve wooden wrecks, meaning her remains may still be largely intact.
• The wreck has not been widely documented, making it a potential site for future exploration.
• Exploration & Archaeological Interest:

Given its location near other known wrecks, divers and sonar teams may eventually locate the remains of Mary Woolson. If discovered, the wreck could provide insights into late 19th-century Schooner-Barge construction and Great Lakes towing operations.

Legacy and Significance

• A Common Hazard for Towed Barges The Mary Woolson’s loss highlights the dangers of towing large, unpowered vessels in a convoy. If a Steamer slowed or changed course suddenly, the barges had little ability to maneuver, making collisions nearly unavoidable. Many Schooner-barges were lost due to similar accidents in the early 20th century.
• A Survivor of the James Davidson Fleet Mary Woolson was built by James Davidson, a shipbuilder famous for his massive wooden Schooner-barges. Davidson’s shipyard was one of the last to construct large wooden vessels, keeping wooden shipbuilding alive even as steel became dominant.
• The Safety of the Crew Unlike many shipwrecks, this incident did not result in any loss of life.The quick arrival of the Huron ensured that all hands survived, a testament to early 20th-century rescue coordination on the lakes.
• A Likely Undiscovered Wreck Since Mary Woolson sank in a deep section of Lake Huron, her wreck remains a mystery. Unlike shallow wrecks that break apart in storms, deep-water shipwrecks often remain well-preserved, making Mary Woolson a prime candidate for discovery by sonar or ROVs.

Further Research and Resources

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca Contains historical records of Schooner-barges and towing accidents on the lakes.
• Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (NOAA – Protecting Lake Huron Shipwrecks) https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/thunderbay  Preserves and maps Great Lakes wrecks, including those near Sturgeon Point.
• Michigan Shipwreck Research Association (MSRA)  https://www.michiganshipwrecks.org Searches for undiscovered wrecks in Lake Huron.
• Davidson Shipbuilding Legacy  Research on James Davidson and his Schooner-barges can be found in maritime museum archives and historical collections.

Conclusion

The Mary Woolson was a large wooden Schooner-Barge, built in 1888 by James Davidson, and spent over 30 years in service as a towed bulk freight carrier. Her final voyage in July 1920 ended when she collided with the Steamer Charles D. Bradley while in tow, suffering catastrophic bow damage before foundering in Lake Huron.

While no lives were lost, her wreck remains undiscovered, making her a potential target for future exploration. As one of the many wooden Schooner-barges lost in the era of steam towing, Mary Woolson represents a transitional period in Great Lakes shipping history, when wooden vessels still played a role in the increasingly industrialized bulk freight trade.