Identification & Site Information

• Name: HUNTING BOY
• Other Names: None reported
• Official Number: 95268
• Date Built and Launched: 1873
• Builder: Fred Spencer, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
• Measurements: Length: 57 ft (17.37 m) Beam: 18 ft (5.49 m) Depth: 4 ft (1.22 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 55 tons
• Date Lost: October 12, 1878
• Place of Loss: At the entrance of Sturgeon Bay Canal, Lake Michigan
• Lake: Michigan

Vessel Type

Two-masted wooden schooner designed for light cargo transport on Lake Michigan and surrounding waterways.

Description

The HUNTING BOY was a small, two-masted wooden schooner built in 1873 by Fred Spencer in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, a prominent shipbuilding town on the western shore of Lake Michigan. Measuring just 57 feet in length, the Schooner was well-suited for the local transport of materials, including bulk goods like sand, which it was carrying at the time of its loss.

This modest-sized vessel was typical of the many smaller schooners that serviced the growing towns and industries along the shores of Door County and the Sturgeon Bay area, providing essential supplies and materials to support regional development.

History

The HUNTING BOY operated primarily in the Door Peninsula region of Wisconsin, an area known for its thriving maritime activity in the late 19th century. Owned by E.B. Graham of Fish Creek, Wisconsin, the vessel frequently transported sand, likely for use in construction or other local industrial activities.

While the Schooner’s operational history was relatively uneventful, it ultimately met its fate during a typical Lake Michigan storm, a common hazard for small wooden vessels navigating the Great Lakes.

Final Disposition

On October 12, 1878, the HUNTING BOY encountered a severe storm while approaching the Sturgeon Bay Canal, a vital shipping route connecting Green Bay to Lake Michigan. The Schooner was driven ashore between the piers at the canal entrance and quickly became a Total Loss.

Despite the wreck, no loss of life was reported, suggesting that the crew managed to escape safely. The remains of the vessel lingered for nearly two years before it was destroyed with dynamite in July 1880, a common method at the time to clear navigational hazards from busy shipping channels.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. The vessel was intentionally destroyed in 1880, and no remnants are believed to remain at the site.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return. No current navigational hazards are associated with this wreck site, as the vessel was cleared shortly after its loss.

Resources & Links

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

Conclusion

The HUNTING BOY‘s brief operational history reflects the challenges faced by small schooners navigating the Great Lakes during the late 19th century. Its loss near the Sturgeon Bay Canal, a key shipping corridor, underscores the perils posed by sudden storms on Lake Michigan. The Schooner’s destruction by dynamite in 1880 highlights how maritime authorities dealt with shipwrecks obstructing vital waterways, ensuring safe passage for future vessels.