Identification & Site Information

• Name: Windham
• Former Names: None
• Official Registration Number: None
• Date Built and Launched: Built in 1843 by Lockwood in Ashtabula, Ohio
• Measurements: Length: 112 ft (34.1 m) Beam: 25 ft (7.6 m) Depth: 9 ft (2.7 m) Tonnage: 237 tonnage (Old Style)
• Date Lost: November 27, 1855
• Place of Loss: Death’s Door Passage, Lake Michigan

Vessel Type

The Windham was a two-masted wooden schooner, primarily used for transporting bulk cargo such as lumber, which was a critical commodity in the development of Great Lakes cities and towns during the mid-19th century.

Description

Built in Ashtabula, Ohio, the Windham was designed for the Great Lakes lumber trade, an industry that drove much of the economic expansion in the region during the mid-1800s. The Schooner’s size and two-masted configuration made her well-suited for carrying large loads of lumber between ports along the Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio shorelines. She was owned by Monroe & Co. of Detroit, a company likely involved in the booming timber industry that fueled growth in Michigan and beyond.

History

The Windham operated during a period when the Great Lakes were the primary transportation routes for timber, grain, and other bulk goods essential to the development of the Midwest. Navigating the lakes, however, was fraught with danger, particularly in regions like Death’s Door Passage, a notoriously hazardous strait at the northern tip of Door Peninsula, Wisconsin, connecting Green Bay with the rest of Lake Michigan.

Final Voyage and Sinking (1855):

On November 27, 1855, while carrying a cargo of lumber, the Windham encountered a severe storm in Death’s Door Passage. Seeking to ride out the storm, the crew anchored the Schooner in what they believed to be a safe location. However, a failure of the watch—whether due to fatigue, oversight, or the storm’s severity—allowed the vessel to drag anchor.

The Schooner was pushed onto rocks in the treacherous strait, where she sustained significant damage. The crew remained huddled on the damaged ship for a full day, exposed to the elements and unable to free the vessel from the rocks. During this time, the Brig Montezuma passed by and saw the distress signals from the Windham, but did not stop to offer assistance, a decision that would have been viewed as highly controversial and contrary to the norms of maritime rescue protocols of the time.

Eventually, the Brig Geneva arrived and rescued the crew from the stranded Schooner. While the crew survived, the Windham was declared a Total Loss, as the extent of the damage and the difficulty of salvaging a vessel from the rocks in Death’s Door Passage made recovery impractical.

Loss of Life

Remarkably, there were no fatalities associated with the loss of the Windham, despite the harrowing conditions and the crew’s prolonged exposure to the storm.

Final Disposition

The Windham was wrecked on the rocks in Death’s Door Passage and declared a Total Loss. No salvage efforts were recorded, and the remains of the vessel likely deteriorated over time in the hazardous waters of the strait.

Death’s Door Passage

This passage, also known as Porte des Morts, has long been infamous for its dangerous currents, shifting sands, and sudden storms. It earned its ominous name from the numerous shipwrecks and maritime disasters that occurred in its waters, including that of the Windham.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No specific navigational warnings related to the Windham have been issued, though Death’s Door Passage remains a well-known hazard for mariners to this day.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Maritime Database
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Wisconsin Historical Society
• Wikipedia – Death Door

Conclusion

The Windham’s loss in Death’s Door Passage highlights the perils of navigating one of the most treacherous stretches of water on the Great Lakes. Despite the crew’s efforts to seek shelter from the storm, the failure to maintain anchor watch resulted in the vessel being driven onto the rocks. The refusal of the Brig Montezuma to assist the stranded Schooner underscores the harsh realities and occasional failures of maritime rescue practices in the mid-19th century. Fortunately, the crew’s eventual rescue by the Brig Geneva prevented further tragedy. The Windham serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by those who worked the Great Lakes during this period of rapid economic growth and maritime activity.

Suggested Keywords: Windham Schooner, Death’s Door Passage shipwrecks, Lake Michigan lumber schooners, 19th-century Great Lakes storms, Door Peninsula shipwrecks, Great Lakes maritime rescues.

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

Glossary Terms: Schooner, Death’s Door Passage, Dragging Anchor, Rock Grounding, Lumber Transport Vessel.