Identification & Site Information

Vessel Name: Isaac W. Nicholas

Type: Schooner

Depth: 36 feet (11 meters) of fresh water (ffw)

Location: Point Pelee, Lake Erie

Coordinates: N 41°52.934’, W 82°32.695’

Year Built: Not specified

Built At: Not specified

Hull Materials: Wood

Dimensions:

•Length: 137 feet (41.8 meters)

•Beam: Not specified

•Gross Tonnage: 316.69 tons (as of 1866)

Registry: United States (Vermillion, Ohio)

Official Number: 13477

Vessel Type Description

The Isaac W. Nicholas was a wooden-hulled Schooner built for cargo transportation across the Great Lakes. With a length of 137 feet and a Gross Tonnage of 316.69 tons, the vessel was a significant contributor to maritime trade during the mid-19th century. Its enrollment in Sandusky, Ohio, and later in Chicago, Illinois, highlights its extensive service throughout the Great Lakes.

History

Launched in the early 1860s, the Isaac W. Nicholas began service in Sandusky, Ohio. Throughout its career, the vessel endured numerous incidents that reflected the inherent challenges of Great Lakes navigation.

1.Early Groundings (1862-1863):

•On November 24, 1862, the Schooner grounded at Fighting Island in the Detroit River.

•Less than a year later, on August 10, 1863, it ran aground on Peach Island shoal, Lake St. Clair.

•Another grounding followed on October 22, 1863, at Thunder Bay Island, Lake Huron.

2.Later Years:

By 1866, the Schooner was re-enrolled in Chicago and underwent repairs and modifications, including new decks in 1871, to ensure its continued service. It faced further challenges, such as a collision with the scow Enright in Cleveland during May 1871.

3.Final Voyage (October 21, 1873):

The Schooner met its demise while anchored in Pigeon Bay during a severe gale. Buffeted by the storm, the vessel struck bothttps://shotlinediving.com/wp-content/uploads/52895851813_b64678c0f7_c.jpg and was subsequently wrecked. Reports from the Toronto Mail and Port Huron Daily Times confirmed the Schooner’s location three miles north of Point au Pelee Dummy Light. The ship was declared a Total Loss.

Final Disposition

•Date of Loss: October 21, 1873

•Cause of Loss: Wrecked after striking bothttps://shotlinediving.com/wp-content/uploads/52895851813_b64678c0f7_c.jpg during a storm in Pigeon Bay, Lake Erie

•Crew: Not specified

•Cargo: Not specified

The wreck of the Isaac W. Nicholas lies in 36 feet of water near Point Pelee, a testament to the Schooner’s decade of service and the treacherous conditions of the Great Lakes.

Tags

•Shipwreck

•Schooner

•Lake Erie

•Maritime History

•Great Lakes Shipwreck

•Pigeon Bay

Conclusion

The Isaac W. Nicholas exemplifies the resilience and challenges of 19th-century Schooner operations on the Great Lakes. Its grounding and final loss in Pigeon Bay underscore the perils faced by mariners and vessels navigating the storm-prone inland seas. The Schooner’s story and its final resting place near Point Pelee contribute to the rich tapestry of Lake Erie’s maritime history.

Resources & Links

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes

•Great Lakes Ships Database

•David Swayze Shipwreck File

•Bowling Green State University – Historical Archives