TABLE ROCK

Identification & Site Information:

• Name: Table Rock
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: 59044 (also referenced as 24146*)
• Type at Loss: Schooner, wood, 2-mast (originally built as a Brig)
• Build Info: 1853, H.C. Person, Cape Vincent, New York
• Specifications: Length: 116 ft (35.36 m)  Beam: 27 ft (8.23 m)  Depth: 8 ft (2.44 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 179 gross tons
• Date of Loss: September 29, 1872
• Place of Loss: On the outside of Tawas Point, Lake Huron
• Lake: Lake Huron
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Loss of Life: All but one of the crew perished
• Carrying: Lumber

Vessel Type:

The Table Rock was a wooden 2-masted Schooner, originally constructed as a Brig before being converted to Schooner-rigged for more efficient cargo handling. These vessels were commonly used in the Great Lakes lumber trade, valued for their ability to navigate the often unpredictable conditions of the region while hauling heavy bulk cargo.

Description:

Built in 1853 by H.C. Person in Cape Vincent, New York, Table Rock was designed for versatility, capable of transporting various types of freight, though she primarily carried lumber in her later years. The vessel’s robust wooden construction reflected typical mid-19th-century shipbuilding techniques designed for resilience in the face of the Great Lakes’ notorious storms.

After her Conversion from a Brig to a Schooner, Table Rock became more efficient for the booming lumber industry, with easier sail handling and improved cargo capacity. The Schooner operated out of Detroit, a major hub for Great Lakes shipping during that period.

History:

Table Rock served during a time when the Great Lakes Schooner fleet was the backbone of bulk cargo transport, moving goods like timber, grain, coal, and general freight between booming industrial ports such as Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, and Cleveland.

Owned out of Detroit, the vessel frequently sailed the Lake Huron corridor, towing alongside other schooners and barges in convoys managed by steam tugs to maximize efficiency in moving goods to market.

Final Disposition:

On September 29, 1872, while in tow of the Tug ZOUAVE, Table Rock encountered a severe gale off Tawas Point, a known navigational hazard on the western shore of Lake Huron. The powerful storm caused the Towline to break, leaving the Schooner at the mercy of high winds and heavy seas. She drifted uncontrollably and eventually ran aground outside Tawas Point, where she was pounded to pieces by waves.

The tragedy claimed the lives of all but one crew member, making it one of the many devastating shipwrecks on Lake Huron during that era. Survivors from other vessels later reported seeing the captain, the mate, and his wife desperately clinging to the cabin roof, which had broken free and was drifting away. Sadly, they were never seen again. The sole survivor’s identity remains unclear in historical records.

The wreck was never salvaged, and the remains of Table Rock likely lie buried beneath sand and sediment near Tawas Point, a site known for many other shipwrecks due to its shifting shoals and exposure to strong storms.

Resources & Links:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU)
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File
• NOAA Great Lakes Shipwreck Database
• Tawas Point State Park Shipwreck Information

Additional Notes:

Conflicting Records: Historical maritime records show two vessels named Table Rock, one listed as a Schooner and the other as a Barge, both with identical tonnage. The Barge (official number 59044) is marked as “lost” in the 1874 Merchant Vessel Registry (MV), suggesting that this could be an administrative overlap or confusion between the two vessels following the wreck.

•Possible Artifacts: Tawas Point is a known shipwreck graveyard with several submerged cultural resources, making it a potential site for future archaeological surveys.

Conclusion:

The story of the Table Rock is emblematic of the dangers faced by sailors on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. The Schooner’s tragic end off Tawas Point reflects the constant battle mariners fought against sudden storms, treacherous shoals, and the harsh conditions that have claimed thousands of ships throughout the Great Lakes’ history. Its memory lives on through maritime records, contributing to the rich tapestry of shipwrecks that define the region’s maritime heritage.