IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
The SCHOOLCRAFT was a robust propeller steam screw vessel, launched in 1884, specifically designed to serve the Great Lakes’ demanding lumber trade. Built by Linn & Craig in Trenton, Michigan, the vessel featured a single propeller powered by a For-and-Aft Compound engine capable of producing 500 horsepower at 80 rpm. With a significant carrying capacity of 700,000 board feet of lumber, the SCHOOLCRAFT was a vital component of the Great Lakes shipping industry. The vessel’s adaptability allowed it to transition from lumber to coal transport, extending its operational life and usefulness in the rapidly changing economic landscape of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
History #
The SCHOOLCRAFT was initially owned by John C. Fitzpatrick and other investors from Cleveland, Ohio, and launched into the bustling lumber trade of the Great Lakes in 1884. The ship’s design and capacity made it well-suited for this trade, but as the economic focus shifted, the vessel was adapted to transport coal. This adaptability contributed to the ship’s longevity in a competitive industry.
Ownership of the SCHOOLCRAFT changed hands multiple times, reflecting the dynamic nature of the shipping industry during that period. Notably, the vessel was acquired by Thomas Nester in 1887 and later by the Nester Lumber Company in 1910. During this time, the SCHOOLCRAFT underwent significant upgrades, including the installation of a new steam scotch boiler in 1895, which helped to extend its operational life.
The vessel’s career was marked by several significant incidents. On August 18, 1910, the SCHOOLCRAFT collided with the steamer AMAZON on Lake St. Clair, resulting in the ship sinking in shallow waters. Despite this setback, the vessel was raised, repaired, and returned to service, demonstrating its resilience and the importance placed on its continued operation.
However, the SCHOOLCRAFT’s service came to an abrupt and tragic end on December 3, 1920. While navigating Lake Ontario, the vessel caught fire. The crew managed to beach the ship at the lower end of Wolfe Island, allowing them to escape with their lives, but the fire ultimately consumed the vessel. The burned hull was abandoned in Brackey Bay, marking the end of the SCHOOLCRAFT’s 36-year service on the Great Lakes.
Final Disposition #
The SCHOOLCRAFT was abandoned in Brackey Bay, Wolfe Island, Lake Ontario, after a fire destroyed the vessel on December 3, 1920. The ship’s remains lie in the bay, a testament to its long and storied career in the maritime history of the Great Lakes.
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CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
The remains of the SCHOOLCRAFT are believed to lie in Brackey Bay, Wolfe Island. Due to the vessel’s destruction by fire, the wreck is likely to be in poor condition, with only the lower portions of the hull potentially remaining submerged in 15 feet of water. The site is accessible to divers, but the extent of the wreckage may be limited.
3D Model 1. Dan Gildea/Tom Rutledge #
YouTube by SLD’s Daniel Gildea #
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RESOURCES & LINKS #
- Buffalo Evening News (August 19, 1910) – “Ships in Collision; Schoolcraft Sunk.”
- Buffalo Evening News (August 23, 1910) – “Schoolcraft in Port.”
- Saginaw Courier-Herald (October 28, 1890) – “Marine City Incident.”
- Merchant Vessel List, U.S. (1911) – “Steam Screw Schoolcraft U.S. No. 115990.”
- Toledo Shipbuilding Master List – Institute for Great Lakes Research, Perrysburg, Ohio
- Marine Review (February 1916) – “Schoolcraft’s Technical and Operational Details.”
- David Swayze Shipwreck File – Schoolcraft’s History and Final Disposition
- Bowling Green State University Historic Vessels of the Great Lakes Database
- Great Lakes Ships Patrick C Badie Collection
- YouTube by WheelsupBaumsaway
PUBLIC DOMAIN PICTURES #
- No public domain pictures used
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SCHOOLCRAFT, steam screw vessel, Great Lakes shipwrecks, Wolfe Island, St. Lawrence River, 1920 fire, maritime history, Brackey Bay.
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