Identification & Site Information #
Vessel Type Description #
The BONNIE DOON was a wooden schooner, a type of sailing vessel with multiple masts, typically two or more, and fore-and-aft rigged sails. Schooners were commonly used on the Great Lakes during the 19th century for transporting goods such as lumber, grain, and other bulk materials. The BONNIE DOON was built in 1855, measuring approximately 133 feet in length, making it a substantial vessel for its time.
History #
The BONNIE DOON was constructed in 1855 by William Shupe in Huron, Ohio. With an official number of 2136, the schooner was made of wood and had a gross tonnage of 255 tons. The vessel was primarily used for the transportation of lumber, which was a common cargo for schooners operating on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century.
Throughout its operational life, the BONNIE DOON had several owners, including E. L. Gillette from Chicago and T. M. Hilson from Detroit. The vessel underwent a rebuild in 1864, which was a common practice for extending the service life of wooden ships.
On December 6, 1867, while en route from Saginaw to Chicago with a cargo of lumber, the BONNIE DOONencountered a severe storm while navigating the Straits of Mackinac. The storm, which struck near Bois Blanc Island in Lake Huron, drove the vessel ashore, causing it to wreck. The details of the incident regarding the crew’s fate are not well-documented, and there is no specific information available about the loss of life.
Efforts were made to salvage the BONNIE DOON following the wreck. However, after multiple attempts, the vessel was abandoned in April of 1868. The challenges of raising and repairing the ship in the treacherous waters of Lake Huron ultimately proved too great.
An additional account mentions a vessel named BONNIE DOON that burned in 1880 at Meldrum Bay in Lake Huron, Ontario. This report describes the vessel as a sloop, which may be a case of mistaken identity or a different vessel with the same name. Given the common practice of reusing names in maritime history, it is possible that another vessel named BONNIE DOON existed, or it might refer to the same schooner with a different rig configuration at a later stage.
Final Disposition #
The BONNIE DOON was abandoned in April 1868 after failed salvage attempts following its wreck in the Straits of Mackinac near Bois Blanc Island. The vessel’s final resting place is within the area where it was driven ashore during the December 1867 storm.
NOTMARs & Advisories #
- Current Status: The wreck is not considered a navigational hazard today and is not subject to any active Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs).
Located By & Date #
- Discovery: The exact location of the wreck has not been documented in modern records.
Resources & Links #
- Great Lakes Ships: Great Lakes Ships
- David Swayze Shipwreck File: Swayze Shipwreck File
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Maritime History of the Great Lakes
Conclusion #
The BONNIE DOON serves as an example of the challenges faced by schooners navigating the Great Lakes during the 19th century. From its construction in 1855 to its eventual abandonment in 1868, the schooner was a key player in the lumber trade, which was vital to the economy of the region. The vessel’s history, marked by its wreck in the Straits of Mackinac, highlights the perils of maritime navigation during that era and the difficulties of shipwreck recovery in the Great Lakes.
Keywords: #
- BONNIE DOON
- Great Lakes Shipwreck
- Lake Huron Storm
- 19th Century Maritime Disaster
- Great Lakes Lumber Trade
- Shipwreck Salvage
- Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck
- Bois Blanc Island
The BONNIE DOON is remembered as part of the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes, where many vessels like it faced the harsh realities of weather and navigation challenges that often led to their untimely end.
