L.M. Mason (1853)

IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #

VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #

The L.M. Mason was a wooden-hulled schooner with two masts and a single deck, constructed in 1853 by Joseph P. Arnold in Port Huron, Michigan. Designed primarily for the transportation of cargo across the Great Lakes, the schooner measured 125 feet 3 inches in length and had a tonnage capacity of approximately 340 tons. Schooners like the L.M. Mason were commonly used during this period for their versatility in carrying various types of freight, including bulk goods like grain, which was the vessel’s final cargo.

HISTORY #

The L.M. Mason was built during a time of rapid growth in the Great Lakes shipping industry. Upon its completion in 1853, the schooner was enrolled in Detroit, Michigan, with its original owner, Joseph P. Arnold, along with Theodore, Chauncey, and Isaac Hubbard, all from Port Huron. Shortly after its launch, the vessel faced significant adversity; it was dismasted in a storm on Lake Ontario’s Mexico Bay in October 1853, necessitating repairs in Oswego.

Ownership of the schooner changed hands multiple times over the years. It was sold to Nickles and Whitcomb of Detroit in November 1853, and later to John Owen, also of Detroit, in 1854. Despite these changes, the L.M. Mason continued to operate across the Great Lakes, carrying various cargoes and encountering several mishaps along the way.

In 1856, the schooner collided with the Moselle on Lake Erie near Point Pelee, but it was repaired and returned to service. By 1860, the vessel was under the ownership of Eldred & Balcon from Chicago, Illinois. However, its string of misfortunes continued; it collided with the Morning Light in a storm on Lake Erie in April 1860 and was struck by a squall near Beaver Island in May 1861, which caused damage that required further repairs.

FINAL DISPOSITION #

The L.M. Mason met its tragic end on October 22, 1861, when it was caught in a gale near Presque Isle, Michigan, on Lake Huron. The schooner was driven ashore by the force of the storm. Following this disaster, the vessel was stripped of valuable materials and abandoned. The final cargo of the L.M. Mason was grain, which was lost along with the vessel in the wreck.

NOTMARs & ADVISORIES #

There are no current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) specifically related to the wreck of the L.M. Mason. The site is of historical interest, and divers and historians exploring the area should approach with respect for the wreck and its significance.

LOCATED BY & DATE #

The exact location of the L.M. Mason wreck near Presque Isle, Michigan, has been noted by various maritime historians, although specific coordinates are not widely published. The wreck lies in Lake Huron, and its remains are part of the many shipwrecks that dot the Great Lakes, each telling a story of the region’s rich maritime history.

RESOURCES & LINKS #

• Great Lakes Maritime Database
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Virtual Museum of Canada – The Swisha Project
• Michigan Shipwreck Research Association

CONCLUSION #

The L.M. Mason’s history is a testament to the challenges faced by vessels on the Great Lakes during the 19th century. From its construction in 1853 to its wreck in 1861, the schooner endured numerous collisions, storms, and ownership changes. The final wrecking of the L.M. Mason near Presque Isle, Michigan, marked the end of a vessel that had seen its share of both success and tragedy on the waters of the Great Lakes. Today, the story of the L.M. Mason serves as a reminder of the perils of maritime life during this era and the enduring legacy of the ships that once sailed these waters.

KEYWORDS #

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