Identification & Site Information

• Name: White Foam
• Former Names: None
• Official Registration Number: 80780
• Date Built and Launched: Built in 1880 by J. Gillingham at North Island, Michigan
• Measurements: Length: 46 ft (14 m) Beam: 13 ft (4 m) Depth: 4 ft (1.2 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 18 tons
• Net Tonnage: 18 tons
• Date of Loss: September 21, 1899
• Place of Loss: Off Bois Blanc Island, Straits of Mackinac
• Lake: Lake Huron

Vessel Type

The White Foam was a wooden scow-schooner, a type of flat-bottomed vessel commonly used in the Great Lakes during the late 19th century for transporting bulk cargo such as lumber, stone, and coal. Scow-schooners were typically smaller and more utilitarian than traditional schooners, designed for hauling goods in shallower waters and making loading and unloading easier.

Description

Constructed in 1880 by J. Gillingham at North Island, Michigan, the White Foam was a relatively small vessel, measuring just 46 feet in length and 18 gross tons. The vessel’s shallow Draft and flat-bottomed Hull made it particularly suited for the lumber trade, which required frequent docking at small, shallow ports and mills scattered along the Great Lakes’ shores.

Scow-schooners like the White Foam were inexpensive to build and operate, making them a common sight on the Great Lakes, especially in regions rich in timber, such as Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the Straits of Mackinac.

History & Final Voyage

On September 21, 1899, while transporting a load of lumber, the White Foam encountered a storm in the Straits of Mackinac near Bois Blanc Island, a strategically located island between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. The straits are known for their unpredictable weather and strong currents, which have contributed to numerous shipwrecks over the years.

The White Foam Foundered during the storm—meaning she filled with water and sank. The small size of the vessel and her heavy lumber cargo would have made her especially vulnerable to rough seas, with little ability to withstand sustained wave action or high winds.

Loss of Life

The available records do not specify whether there were any fatalities associated with the sinking of the White Foam. Given the vessel’s small size, it likely had a minimal crew, and survival would have depended on the proximity to shore and the severity of the storm. The lack of detailed reporting may suggest that no lives were lost, though this cannot be confirmed.

Final Disposition

The White Foam was lost to the depths of Lake Huron off Bois Blanc Island in 1899. No salvage efforts are recorded, and the vessel was likely considered a Total Loss due to her small size and the relatively low value of scow-schooners compared to larger freighters. The wreck may still rest in the Straits of Mackinac, but no official discovery or mapping of the site has been reported.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No specific navigational warnings related to the White Foam have been issued. However, the Straits of Mackinac remain a hazardous area for navigation, with sudden weather shifts and strong currents posing dangers to vessels even today.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Maritime Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Museum

Conclusion

The sinking of the White Foam in 1899 adds to the long list of shipwrecks in the Straits of Mackinac, an area infamous for its treacherous waters and unpredictable weather. While small scow-schooners like the White Foam were not as glamorous or high-profile as the massive iron ore freighters of the Great Lakes, they were critical to the regional economy, hauling timber and other essential goods to growing communities. The loss of the White Foam reflects both the dangers of maritime commerce in the late 19th century and the resilience of those who worked the lakes, facing peril with each voyage.

Suggested Keywords: White Foam scow-Schooner, Bois Blanc Island shipwrecks, Straits of Mackinac shipwrecks, Lake Huron lumber transport, Great Lakes small vessel wrecks, scow-Schooner foundering.

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Huron, Scow-Schooners of the Great Lakes, 19th Century Maritime Disasters, Straits of Mackinac Shipwrecks.

Glossary Terms: Scow-Schooner, Foundering, Lumber Schooner, Straits of Mackinac Navigation Hazards, Lake Huron Storms.