Identification & Site Information:

GEORGE NESTER:

• • Name: George Nester
• • Type: Schooner
• • Gross Tonnage: 790 tons
• • Incident Date: April 30, 1909
• • Location: Huron Island, Lake Superior
• • Cause: Stranded during a furious gale
• • Final Disposition: Broke apart in the violent storm; Total Loss
• • Lives Lost: All seven crew members perished.

History:

The George Nester was a Schooner owned by Detroit interests, operating primarily as a cargo vessel on the Great Lakes. On April 30, 1909, the Schooner met a tragic fate near Huron Island, situated off Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in Lake Superior. A fierce gale overwhelmed the vessel, causing it to strand on the island’s rugged shores. Unable to withstand the storm’s relentless force, the vessel broke apart, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members aboard.

The events of April 30, 1909, marked one of the most disastrous days in Great Lakes navigation history. Four vessels—George Nester, Russia, Batavia, and Aurania—suffered catastrophic incidents across Lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan. From violent storms to shifting cargo, crushing ice, and eerie desertions, the day highlighted the unpredictable and dangerous nature of commerce on the Great Lakes.

Resources & Links:

• • Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• • David Swayze Shipwreck File: Archival information on specific incidents and vessels.
• • Great Lakes Ships Database: Vessel histories and records.
• 3DShipwrecks – George Nester

3D Model – George Nester

George Nestor by 3DShipwrecks on Sketchfab

Suggested Keywords & Categories:

• Keywords: George Nester, Russia freighter, Batavia mystery, Aurania ice sinking, Lake Superior disasters, Great Lakes shipwrecks, April 30, 1909 storm.

• Categories: Lake Superior Shipwrecks, Lake Huron Disasters, Lake Michigan Mysteries, 20th-Century Maritime History, Weather-Related Vessel Losses.

Glossary Terms:

• Package Freighter: A type of cargo vessel used to transport general goods, often with quick loading/unloading capabilities.

• Stranding: The process of a ship running aground, often due to weather or navigational challenges.

• Ice Floe: A sheet of floating ice that can crush or damage vessels navigating cold waters.

If you’d like specific maps, wreck locations, or further details on individual vessels, let me know!