Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: Columbia

• Type: Wooden-hulled Schooner

• Year Built: 1844

• Builder: James Pickering, Sackets Harbor, NY

• Dimensions:

• Length: 99 feet (30.2 meters)

• Beam (Width): 20 feet (6.1 meters)

• Depth: 9 feet (2.7 meters)

• Tonnage: 165 tons

• Primary Use: Passenger and freight trade across the Great Lakes

• Final Disposition: Wrecked near Harrisville, MI, in Lake Huron, fall of 1880

• Cause of Wreck: Storm

• Location: Lake Huron, near Harrisville, Michigan

Vessel Type Description

The Columbia was a wooden Schooner with two masts, built primarily for passenger and freight transportation on the Great Lakes. Schooners like the Columbia were designed for versatility and agility, allowing them to navigate both open waters and tighter passages. With its wooden Hull and modest size, the Columbia embodied the classic Schooner design well-suited to handle the various challenges of Great Lakes navigation.

History

The Columbia was built in 1844 by James Pickering in Sackets Harbor, New York, a shipbuilding town known for producing sturdy vessels intended for lake trade. The Columbia was originally planned for a life of transport and travel across the upper Great Lakes. However, the vessel’s journey was marked by a tragic and unsettling beginning that foreshadowed a string of misfortunes.

During its maiden attempt to navigate the Welland Canal, the Columbia, captained by its builder James Pickering, encountered an unexpected setback—it was found to be just an inch too long to pass through the locks. Overcome with despair over this apparent failure, Captain Pickering tragically took his own life at Lock No. 8 on the Welland Canal. His sudden and tragic death cast a shadow over the vessel’s future, leaving behind a grieving family and a Schooner forever associated with misfortune.

Despite this tragic start, the Columbia continued to sail, changing ownership multiple times and undergoing repairs to keep it operational. In 1860, the vessel was Rebuilt, and in 1871, it received a new Deck, reflecting efforts by successive owners to maintain its seaworthiness. Yet, the Columbia seemed cursed with persistent challenges, facing storms and other hazards throughout its years of service.

In the fall of 1880, the vessel’s ill-fated journey met its final chapter. While details of its last voyage are scarce, a severe storm on Lake Huron overwhelmed the Columbia near Harrisville, Michigan, ending the vessel’s tumultuous career. The storm caused the Schooner to wreck and ultimately sink, marking the end of its journey across the Great Lakes.

Final Disposition

The Columbia was destroyed in a fierce storm in the fall of 1880 near Harrisville, Michigan, on Lake Huron. Despite efforts to keep the vessel in service through repairs and ownership changes, it met a tragic end much like its somber beginning. The wreck was a Total Loss, with no salvage reported, and the vessel’s remains lie somewhere off the Michigan coast.

Legacy and Historical Significance

The story of the Columbia is a poignant reminder of the unpredictable and often unforgiving nature of Great Lakes navigation. From its ill-fated attempt to pass through the Welland Canal to its destruction in a Lake Huron storm, the Schooner became a symbol of perseverance in the face of misfortune. Its story highlights the sacrifices and emotional toll faced by shipbuilders, captains, and sailors who braved the Great Lakes. The Columbia’s legacy endures as a tale of human resilience and the relentless forces of nature that defined life on the lakes.

Resources & Links

For more information on the Columbia and Great Lakes maritime history:

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Maritime History of the Great Lakes

• Great Lakes Ships Database: Great Lakes Ships Database

• Local Archives in Sackets Harbor and Harrisville: Potential historical records on the ship’s construction and final wreck