Shipwreck Report: Schooner WAVERTREE (1855–1867)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: Wavertree
• Former Name: R.H. Harmon (renamed in 1865)
• • Official Number: 26233
• • Vessel Type: Wooden, Two-Masted Schooner
• • Built: 1855, by Quayle & Martin, Cleveland, Ohio
• • Home Port: Cleveland, Ohio
• • Primary Use: Freight transport (bulk cargo, likely grain, lumber, or coal)
• Specifications
• • Length: 128 feet (39 meters)
• • Beam: 26 feet (7.9 meters)
• • Depth: 11 feet (3.4 meters)
• • Tonnage: 343 tons
• • Masts: Two
• • Construction: Wooden Hull

Operational History

The Wavertree was originally launched as the R.H. Harmon in 1855 at Cleveland, Ohio, by the shipbuilding firm Quayle & Martin. She was a two-masted Schooner, a common type of Great Lakes sailing vessel used for cargo transport during the mid-19th century.

Trade Routes & Cargo

Likely operated between Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan ports, carrying lumber, coal, grain, or general cargo. Notably, she sailed to Europe in 1858, an unusual feat for a Great Lakes Schooner, indicating she may have been involved in transatlantic grain or timber shipments at least once.  After being renamed Wavertree in 1865, she continued Great Lakes trade until her loss in 1867.

Final Voyage and Loss

• Date of Loss: November 1867
• Location: Off Black River, south of Thunder Bay, Lake Huron
• Cause: Unreported (possibly grounded or storm damage)
• Cargo at Loss: Unknown
• Loss of Life: Unknown

Incident Details

The Wavertree was reported as “lost” in November 1867, though no details about the sinking or cause of loss are recorded.  She may have been driven ashore in a storm, suffered Hull damage, or run aground in the Black River area near Thunder Bay, Michigan.  She remained stranded on the beach through the winter and was still visible in May 1868, when she was sold off the beach for salvage.  By June 1868, the vessel was fully stripped and Abandoned, confirming she was given up as a Total Loss.

Legacy and Significance

One of the Few Great Lakes Schooners to Sail to Europe

The Wavertree’s 1858 voyage to Europe stands out as a rare example of a Great Lakes Schooner undertaking an Atlantic crossing.  While most Great Lakes schooners were confined to freshwater, occasional vessels were modified to make ocean voyages.

Typical Mid-19th Century Great Lakes Schooner The Wavertree was representative of the wooden Schooner fleets that dominated Great Lakes trade in the mid-1800s.  These vessels were the workhorses of bulk shipping, carrying timber, coal, grain, and iron ore before steam-powered freighters took over.

Another Mystery Shipwreck on Lake Huron  Unlike well-documented shipwrecks, little is known about the Wavertree’s final moments, making it another lost vessel with an uncertain fate. South of Thunder Bay is an area known for severe storms and hazardous shoals, which may have contributed to her loss.

Wreck Site and Potential Remains

• Location: Believed to be near Black River, south of Thunder Bay, Michigan, Lake Huron
• Current Condition:  The Hull was stripped in 1868, meaning little would remain today. Any remaining wooden structure may have deteriorated or been buried in shifting sands. Some iron fittings, anchors, or rigging hardware may still exist on the lakebed.
• Potential for Discovery: If wreckage remains underwater, side-scan sonar or magnetometer surveys could detect remnants of the Hull. No confirmed modern discoveries of the Wavertree wreck have been reported.

Further Research and Resources

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes  http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca Contains ship lists, historical records, and ownership transfers.
• Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (NOAA)  https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/thunderbay/ Documents shipwrecks in the Thunder Bay region of Lake Huron.
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
•  Michigan Shipwreck Research Association https://www.michiganshipwrecks.org May contain information on vessels lost in Lake Huron.
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum (Whitefish Point, MI)
• Houses records and artifacts from Great Lakes maritime history.

Conclusion

The Wavertree (1855–1867) was a two-masted wooden Schooner that sailed to Europe in 1858 before continuing Great Lakes trade. She was lost in November 1867 off Black River, south of Thunder Bay, Lake Huron, though details of her sinking remain unknown. By June 1868, she was Abandoned and stripped, marking her as one of many forgotten shipwrecks of Lake Huron. Further research and underwater surveys may help locate any remaining wreckage.