Shipwreck Report: Schooner Netta Weaver (1865–1877)

Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: Netta Weaver (also recorded as Nettie Weaver or Nett Weaver)
• Official Number: 18089
• Vessel Type: Wooden Schooner
• Built: 1865, by Rogers, Toledo or Milan, Ohio
• Primary Use: Iron Ore Transport
• Final Location: 50 miles west of Kincardine, Ontario, Lake Huron
• Date Lost: October 4, 1877
• Cause: Storm
• Final Cargo: Iron Ore
• Loss of Life: 2 of 8 crew members

Vessel Description & History

The Netta Weaver was a mid-sized wooden Schooner built in 1865 to carry bulk cargo on the Great Lakes. She was 310 tons and likely transported coal, lumber, grain, and iron ore throughout her career.

By the 1870s, sailing vessels like the Netta Weaver were competing against steam-powered freighters, which were faster and more reliable in poor weather. However, many schooners remained in service, especially in the iron ore trade between Lake Superior and Ohio steel mills.

The Netta Weaver was based in Cleveland, Ohio, operating between Duluth, Marquette, Cleveland, and Buffalo.

Final Voyage & Loss (October 4, 1877) Departure: The Netta Weaver was bound for Cleveland from Lake Superior, loaded with iron ore Condition of the Vessel:  This was her first trip after being laid up for an entire season, which may have affected her structural integrity.  Many vessels that had spent long periods in storage developed leaks and weaknesses due to wood rot and Hull shrinkage.

 Weather Conditions:  The storm struck suddenly, bringing strong winds and heavy waves.  The Netta Weaver was unable to withstand the storm, leading to her complete wreckage.

Survivors’ Struggle  Six crew members managed to escape in an open Yawl (small boat). They endured an 18-hour journey through the storm before reaching Kincardine, Ontario

Two lives were lost:  A crewman and a passenger drowned before they could escape.

Wreck Site and Potential Remains

•  Location: 50 miles west of Kincardine, Ontario, Lake Huron.
• Current Condition: Given her wooden construction, much of the Netta Weaver’s Hull has likely deteriorated over time.
• Iron ore cargo could still be present on the lakebed, along with anchors, chain, and metal rigging fittings.
• Potential for Discovery No modern documentation or sonar scans confirm the exact location. Future Great Lakes shipwreck explorations could locate her remains.

Legacy and Significance

Another Victim of Lake Huron’s Unpredictable Storms  October storms are among the most dangerous weather patterns on the Great Lakes. Similar late-season storm-related losses include the Daniel J. Morrell (1966) and the Edmund Fitzgerald (1975).

The Struggles of Great Lakes Sailors  The survivors’ journey to Kincardine was a harrowing test of endurance, taking 18 hours in rough waters.  Many Great Lakes shipwrecks include stories of small boat escapes, some successful, some tragic.

The Transition from Sail to Steam  By the late 1870s, wooden schooners were being phased out in favor of steel-hulled steamships. The Netta Weaver’s loss reflects the growing risks for sailing vessels, which were slower, less maneuverable, and more vulnerable to storms.

Further Research and Resources

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca Contains historical shipwreck records and shipping company archives.
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum (Whitefish Point, MI) https://www.shipwreckmuseum.com Features exhibits on shipwreck disasters in the Great Lakes.
• Michigan Shipwreck Research Association https://www.michiganshipwrecks.org  Documents historical wreck sites in Michigan waters.
• Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (NOAA) https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/thunderbay/ Conducts shipwreck surveys and underwater research in the Great Lakes.

Conclusion

The Netta Weaver (1865–1877) was a wooden Schooner used for iron ore transport, lost 50 miles west of Kincardine, Ontario, in a storm on October 4, 1877. Though six crew members survived after an 18-hour ordeal in an open boat, two lives were lost. Like many Great Lakes sailing ships of the era, her loss reflects the dangers of wooden schooners competing against newer steam-powered vessels. Today, her remains likely rest beneath Lake Huron’s waters, waiting to be rediscovered.