IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
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VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The Allegan was a wooden two-masted schooner built in 1835 or 1836 in Chaumont, New York. Schooners like the Allegan were commonly used for transporting bulk goods across the Great Lakes, and their design allowed for relatively quick and efficient sailing. The Allegan had a tonnage of approximately 100 tons and was involved in the bustling maritime trade of the mid-19th century.
HISTORY #
The Allegan began its service in the Great Lakes region shortly after its construction in the mid-1830s. The vessel had a length of 76 feet, a beam of 20 feet, and a depth of 8 feet, making it a moderately sized schooner capable of handling significant cargo loads. Throughout its career, the Allegan was enrolled in various ports, including Oswego, New York; Detroit, Michigan; Sacketts Harbor; and Cape Vincent, New York. The vessel’s activities included transporting goods such as wheat across Lake Ontario and other connected waterways.
The Allegan experienced several incidents over its years of service, including running aground and being stranded during gales. Despite these challenges, the schooner continued to operate and even underwent significant reconstruction and enlargement during the winter of 1855-1856. Unfortunately, the specifics of the rebuilt vessel’s dimensions were not recorded.
The Allegan met its unfortunate fate in November 1856 when it went ashore during a storm near Presqu’ile, Ontario, on Lake Ontario. The vessel was declared a total loss, along with its cargo of wheat. The combined value of the hull and cargo was estimated at $11,500, which was covered by insurance. The schooner’s final owners were not specified in the available records, although Hopkins and Harken of Oswego, New York, were recorded as the last known owners as of April 1856.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The Allegan was driven ashore and wrecked near Presqu’ile, Ontario, in November 1856. The vessel was declared a total loss, and there is no evidence that it was salvaged or rebuilt following the incident.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
The remains of the Allegan have not been extensively documented, and it is unclear if any significant portions of the vessel exist today. The site near Presqu’ile where the schooner was wrecked is of historical interest, but no substantial wreckage is known to be present.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
Allegan, schooner, Chaumont New York, Lake Ontario shipwrecks, Presqu’ile Ontario, 1856 storm, Hopkins and Harken, maritime history, Great Lakes.
