Schooner Transit (1854–1891)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Transit
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: 24231
• Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden Schooner, 2-mast
• Builder: H. Rand, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
• Year Built & Launched: 1854
• Specifications:  Length: 82 ft (25 m)  Beam: 23 ft (7 m)  Depth: 7 ft (2.1 m)
• Tonnage: 92 tons
• Date Lost: September 23, 1891
• Location of Loss: Kewaunee Harbor, Lake Michigan
• Cause of Loss: Collision with unmarked pier extension
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Hardwood lumber

Vessel Description & Service History

The Transit was a wooden two-masted Schooner, built in 1854 by H. Rand in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Designed primarily for the lumber trade on the Great Lakes, she regularly carried hardwood lumber between ports along Lake Michigan and beyond.  Typical of mid-19th-century Great Lakes schooners, she was a versatile, durable vessel built to withstand the harsh conditions of inland seas.  Owned by Peter & Elias Oleson at the time of her loss, the Transit served for nearly four decades, reflecting the long service life typical of sturdy wooden schooners of her era.

Final Voyage & Loss (September 23, 1891)

On the night of September 23, 1891, the Transit was approaching Kewaunee Harbor on Lake Michigan, hauling a load of hardwood lumber.  As she maneuvered to enter the harbor for the night, she struck the newly constructed north pier extension head-on.  The pier extension had just been built, and was not yet marked with navigational lights, making it invisible in the darkness. The impact caused significant damage, and the vessel drifted onto the harbor rocks.  Despite efforts to save her, the Transit was declared a total wreck shortly after the collision. Attempts were made to tow her out into the lake and abandon her, but the wreck drifted back ashore and broke upover time, leaving little to recover.

Final Disposition & Salvage

Declared a Total Loss after the collision.  Towed into Lake Michigan and Abandoned, but she drifted ashore and eventually broke apart.  No modern salvage efforts reported.

Located By & Date Found  No confirmed wreck site identified to date. Potential wreckage may remain near Kewaunee Harbor, Lake Michigan.

NOTMARs & Advisories

The absence of navigational lights on the new pier extension directly contributed to the Transit’s loss.  This incident highlighted the critical importance of marking new harbor structures to prevent maritime accidents.  Modern navigational standards have since been greatly improved, requiring proper lighting and marking of all harbor extensions and navigational hazards.

Resources & Links

• Wisconsin Historical Society: https://www.wisconsinhistory.org
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU): https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org

Conclusion

The Transit served the Great Lakes for nearly 40 years, a testament to the ruggedness of wooden Schooner construction. Her loss in 1891 at Kewaunee Harbor underscores the navigational challenges faced by mariners in an era when infrastructure changes were sometimes poorly communicated or marked. Despite her tragic end, Transitrepresents an important part of Wisconsin’s maritime heritage.