Identification & Site Information

• Name: Western Star
• Former Names: None
• Official Registration Number: None
• Date Built and Launched: Built in 1854 by Bliss in Sheboygan, Wisconsin
• Measurements: 102 ft (31.1 m) length x 28 ft (8.5 m) beam x 9 ft (2.7 m) depth; 320 tons
• Date Lost: November 6, 1854
• Place of Loss: Near Goderich, Ontario, close to Kettle Point
• Lake: Lake Huron

Vessel Type

The Western Star was a wooden-hulled Schooner, a common type of cargo vessel on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century, designed for transporting bulk goods like grain and lumber.

Description

Built in 1854 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the Western Star was a relatively new Schooner at the time of her loss. With a cargo capacity of 320 tons, she was part of the growing fleet of wooden sailing vessels essential to the transportation network of the Great Lakes. Schooners like the Western Star were crucial for moving agricultural products, such as wheat, from inland areas to major markets in the eastern United States.

History

Owned by A.P. Lyman of Sheboygan and commanded by Captain Beels, the Western Star was engaged in the grain trade, a booming industry in the 1850s due to the agricultural expansion in the American Midwest. On her final voyage, she was loaded with wheat and en route to Buffalo, New York, a key port for shipping goods further east via the Erie Canal.

On November 6, 1854, the Western Star encountered a severe storm on Lake Huron near Goderich, Ontario. The Schooner was driven ashore at Kettle Point, a treacherous area known for its shallow waters and shifting sandbars. Despite the violent weather, the crew survived the ordeal, but the ship was a Total Loss, valued at $16,000—a significant sum at the time. The wreck highlights the perils faced by early Great Lakes mariners, who navigated often unpredictable and hazardous waters with limited weather forecasting and rudimentary navigation tools.

Final Disposition

The Western Star was wrecked near Kettle Point on Lake Huron and declared a Total Loss. The wreckage likely deteriorated over time, as was common with wooden vessels exposed to the elements, and no significant salvage or recovery efforts were documented.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No specific navigational warnings or obstructions related to the wreck of the Western Star have been issued.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Great Lakes Maritime Database

Conclusion

The Western Star represents the challenges faced by schooners navigating the Great Lakes in the mid-19th century. Though her career was brief, her loss near Kettle Point serves as a reminder of the region’s unpredictable storms and the inherent risks of early Great Lakes shipping. While no lives were lost, the financial impact and total destruction of the vessel underscore the volatility of maritime trade in this era.

Suggested Keywords: Western Star, Lake Huron shipwrecks, schooner wrecks, Great Lakes maritime history, Kettle Point shipwreck, Goderich Ontario shipwrecks, wheat cargo shipwreck.

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Huron, 19th Century Maritime Disasters, Wooden Schooners of the Great Lakes.

Glossary Terms: Schooner, Bulk Freight, Kettle Point, Total Loss, Lake Huron Storms.