Identification & Site Information

• Name: WILLIAM H. DUNHAM
• Former Names: None
• Official Number: 80393
• Date Built and Launched: 1873
• Builder: Robinson, Eastmanville, Michigan
• Homeport: Unknown
• Final Owner: Unknown
• Vessel Type: Wooden Schooner
• Hull Materials: Wood
• Power: Sail-powered
• Measurements:
• Length: 116 ft (35.3 m)
• Beam: 24 ft (7.3 m)
• Depth: 8 ft (2.4 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 185 tons
• Net Tonnage: 175 tons
• Primary Cargo: Lumber
• Final Route: Unknown, likely a trade route between Michigan and Wisconsin ports

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Vessel Type

The WILLIAM H. DUNHAM was a wooden Schooner, designed primarily for lumber transport across the Great Lakes. At 116 feet in length and 185 gross tons, the WILLIAM H. DUNHAM was a medium-sized Schooner well-suited for the lumber trade in Michigan and Wisconsin waters.

Key Features of Great Lakes Lumber Schooners:

• Carried timber and other bulk cargoes
• Relied on multiple masts to harness Great Lakes winds
• Often faced perilous conditions due to shifting cargo and storms
• Schooner rigging allowed for maneuverability in shallow waters

History

The WILLIAM H. DUNHAM served in lumber transport for nearly 30 years before meeting its fate in a storm on Lake Michigan in 1902.

Key Events in the Vessel’s History:

• 1873: Built in Eastmanville, Michigan, a region known for Great Lakes shipbuilding.
• 1902, December 31: Driven ashore near Duke’s Creek, Michigan, in a storm and wrecked beyond repair.

Final Disposition

The WILLIAM H. DUNHAM was lost on December 31, 1902, when a storm forced it ashore near Duke’s Creek on Lake Michigan.

The Disaster

• The Schooner encountered heavy weather, while carrying a load of lumber.
• Winds pushed the vessel toward shore, where it was driven onto the beach.
• The vessel was so badly damaged that it could not be salvaged.
• There is no confirmed record of loss of life, but early sources may be incomplete.

This wreck is one of many lumber schooners lost due to the unpredictable storms of the Great Lakes, which often resulted in ships being driven ashore and breaking apart.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. There are no confirmed reports of the WILLIAM H. DUNHAM‘s wreck remains being discovered or documented.

Since it wrecked near shore, its remains have been scattered or buried under sand over time.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil return. No modern navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported near Duke’s Creek, Michigan.

Resources & Links

• Historical Databases:
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Ships Database
• David Swayze Great Lakes Shipwreck File
• Local Archives & Museums:
• Michigan Maritime Museum (South Haven, MI) (Potential archival material on Great Lakes schooners and their trade routes)
• Wisconsin Maritime Museum (Manitowoc, WI) (Records on lumber schooners and their operations)

Conclusion

The WILLIAM H. DUNHAM was a hardworking Great Lakes lumber Schooner lost to a storm in 1902.

With no salvage possible, it was left to the elements, breaking apart over time.