Identification & Site Information

• Name: Anna O. Hanson (also seen as Annie O. Hanson)
• Official Number: 1811
• Former Names: None
• Date Built & Launched: 1869
• Builder: Sorensen, DePere, WI
• Measurements: 113 ft x 26 ft x 9 ft (34.4 m x 7.9 m x 2.7 m)
• Tonnage: 186 gross tons, 177 net tons
• Rebuilds: 1881
• Major Repairs: 1870 (after wrecking near Long Point Gut, November 1869)
• Date Lost: March 30, 1902
• Place of Loss: Near Manistee, MI, Lake Michigan
• Type of Loss: Ice
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo: Unknown

Vessel Type

The Anna O. Hanson was a two-masted wooden schooner primarily used for transporting lumber, a common trade on the Great Lakes in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Description

Built in 1869 in DePere, Wisconsin, the Anna O. Hanson was a typical example of a Great Lakes Schooner designed for the lumber trade. With its two-mast rigging, it was well-suited for carrying heavy cargoes across the lake, particularly to and from Michigan’s timber ports.

The vessel had an early incident in its career, wrecking near Long Point Gut in November 1869. It was repaired the following year and remained in service for decades. In 1881, the Schooner underwent a significant Rebuild, extending its working life.

History

Throughout its career, the Anna O. Hanson was primarily engaged in hauling lumber, an essential industry in the Great Lakes region. Lumber schooners often pushed the limits of seasonal navigation, as timber prices fluctuated, and early or late-season voyages could bring higher profits.

In March 1902, the Anna O. Hanson attempted one of these risky early-season runs, hoping to capitalize on high sale prices. However, Lake Michigan was still plagued by thick ice floes, a dangerous hazard for wooden vessels. Near Manistee, Michigan, the Schooner was caught in the shifting ice, driven ashore, and wrecked.

Despite the severity of the wreck, no lives were lost. The ship’s owners, C & J. Schulz of Two Rivers, WI, presumably attempted to salvage what they could, but the vessel was beyond repair.

Final Disposition

The Anna O. Hanson was a Total Loss after being driven ashore. The wreck was Abandoned, and no significant salvage efforts are recorded. Over time, the remains of the vessel likely deteriorated and disappeared under shifting sands and waves.

Located By & Date Found

There is no confirmed modern discovery of the Anna O. Hanson wreck.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No known Navigation Hazards associated with the wreck site.

Resources & Links

• Great Lakes Maritime Database – Bowling Green State University
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The Anna O. Hanson is a reminder of the dangers of early-season navigation on the Great Lakes. While ice entrapment was a well-known risk, the potential profits from an early cargo run sometimes led shipowners to take the chance. The Schooner’s loss near Manistee marked the end of a vessel that had already survived decades of hard service and previous wrecks.

Suggested Keywords & Categories

• Keywords: Anna O. Hanson shipwreck, Annie O. Hanson, Great Lakes schooners, Lake Michigan shipwrecks, lumber schooners, Manistee shipwrecks
• Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Lake Michigan History, 19th Century Schooners, Ice-Related Wrecks
• Glossary Terms: Schooner, Ice Floes, Lumber Trade, Lake Michigan Navigation, Ship Stranding