The ANNA BELLE WILSON, also known as ANNABEL WILSON, was a schooner-barge primarily involved in the transportation of coal. It was built in 1887 by W. Dulac in Mount Clemens, Michigan, with official number 106475. The vessel had a size of 174 feet in length, 32.2 feet in width, and 12 feet in depth. Its gross tonnage was recorded at 491 tons, with a net tonnage of 467 tons.
Throughout its history, the ANNA BELLE WILSON underwent several ownership changes and operated in various trade routes. In 1888, it was owned by Charles Hebard & Son, with its home port being Pequaming, MI. The barge was towed by the CHARLES HEBARD and J.H. SHRIGLEY in the Lake Superior lumber trade until around 1900. Ownership then passed to Luther P. Graves, with a change in home port to Buffalo, NY, in 1901.
Over the years, the ANNA BELLE WILSON required several repairs and changes in ownership. In 1911, it was owned by Graves & Bigwood in Buffalo. However, tragedy struck on July 12, 1913, when the vessel encountered a storm off Dunkirk, NY, in Lake Erie. The ANNA BELLE WILSON became waterlogged and sank, resulting in the loss of two lives. Despite efforts to recover the vessel and its cargo of coal, including negotiations with a dredging company and the Reid Wrecking Co., the ANNA BELLE WILSON remained submerged, posing a navigation hazard.
The sinking of the ANNA BELLE WILSON garnered attention in local news reports, highlighting the need for its removal due to the potential dangers it posed to vessels seeking shelter in the harbor. The vessel’s owner, Thomas Lannon, expressed intentions to abandon the barge, and the government was expected to take action to remove it in the following spring.
The details surrounding the ANNA BELLE WILSON’s history and its tragic sinking off Dunkirk serve as a reminder of the risks faced by vessels navigating the Great Lakes and the importance of maritime safety in treacherous weather conditions.
