IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION

•Name: Gray Oak

•Type: Wooden Scow Schooner-Barge

•Location: Near Welcome Island, Thunder Bay, Lake Superior

•Coordinates: 48°20.745’N, 89°06.390’W

•Depth: 95 feet (29 meters)

•Year Built: 1885

•Builder: F. D. Maynard, Bayfield, Wisconsin

•Original Owner: R. D. Pike, Bayfield, Wisconsin

•Official Number: 85916

VESSEL DESCRIPTION

The Gray Oak was a two-masted wooden Schooner-Barge, constructed in 1885 in Bayfield, Wisconsin. It featured a single Deck and a wooden Hull, with a length of 133.7 feet (40.8 meters), beam of 31.7 feet (9.7 meters), and a depth of 9.01 feet (2.7 meters). It had a Gross Tonnage of 290.97 tons and a Net Tonnage of 277.25 tons, with a cargo capacity of 500,000 feet of lumber or sandstone. The vessel was primarily used for transporting sandstone and other bulk materials in the Great Lakes region.

HISTORY

Purpose and Operations

The Gray Oak was primarily engaged in the transport of sandstone from the Apostle Islands to various ports in Wisconsin, including Ashland and Bayfield. It operated as a Schooner-Barge, towed by larger steamers, including:

•1887: Towed by the ONIEDA, alongside the R.N. RICE and R.J. CARNEY.

•1888: Worked with the MAY DORR and HALSTED, carrying railroad ties.

•1889: Towed by the ROBERT HOLLAND with the S.M. STEPHENSON and ANNIE SHERWOOD.

•1892: Changed ownership to J.V. Lutts of Port Clinton, Ohio, and towed by YOSEMITE and later the LELAND.

Conversion and Later Years

In 1893, Daniel H. Wilcox of Buffalo purchased the Gray Oak. Under the operation of the Western Transit Co., it was converted into a Lighter—a vessel used to transfer cargo between ships and shore. During this time, its masts were removed, and it transported flour and other goods between St. Paul and Duluth.

By 1911, after decades of service, the Gray Oak was scuttled in Thunder Bay, Lake Superior, near the Welcome Islands, at a depth of 100 feet. In 1912, the vessel was sold to Canadian interests, marking its final transition in ownership.

FINAL DISPOSITION

The Gray Oak was deliberately scuttled in 1911 near the Welcome Islands in Thunder Bay, Lake Superior. Its remains rest at a depth of 95 feet (29 meters), providing an accessible dive site for enthusiasts interested in Great Lakes shipwreck history.

CURRENT CONDITION & DIVE INFORMATION

•Wreck Condition: The wooden structure is relatively well-preserved, thanks to the cold, fresh waters of Lake Superior. Key features such as the Hull and cargo areas may still be visible.

•Depth: At 95 feet, the wreck is accessible to experienced recreational divers using standard scuba equipment.

•Marine Life: The wreck provides habitat for a variety of freshwater fish and other aquatic species.

•Access: The site is a popular dive location, with nearby Thunder Bay serving as a base for dive expeditions.

RESOURCES & LINKS

•Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Comprehensive historical records on Great Lakes vessels.

•David Swayze Shipwreck File: Detailed shipwreck database including the Gray Oak.

•Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary: Resources for divers and maritime historians exploring the region.

KEYWORDS

Gray Oak, Welcome Island shipwreck, Thunder Bay, Schooner-Barge, Great Lakes shipping, Lake Superior wreck, scuttled vessels, 19th-century Great Lakes trade, underwater history.

CONCLUSION

The Gray Oak served as a hardworking Schooner-Barge in the Great Lakes for over two decades, adapting to changing commercial demands and ownership. Its final scuttling near Welcome Island adds to the storied underwater landscape of Lake Superior, offering divers and historians a tangible connection to the region’s rich maritime history.