Schooner Two Sisters (1883)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Two Sisters
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: 145340
• Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden, two-masted Schooner
• Builder: Whitmore Bros., Erin, Michigan
• Year Built & Launched: 1883
• Specifications: Length: 70 ft (21.3 m) Beam: 18 ft (5.5 m) Depth: 4 ft (1.2 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 34 GT
  • Net Tonnage: 32 NT
• Date Lost: 1899 (?) (exact date uncertain)
• Location of Loss: Forest Bay, Lake Huron
• Cause of Loss: Storm, stranded and wrecked
• Loss of Life: Unknown
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Unknown

Vessel Description & History

The Two Sisters was a small, wooden two-masted Schooner, built in 1883 in Erin, Michigan, by Whitmore Bros. Like many Great Lakes schooners, she was likely used for lumber, grain, or general cargo transport. Due to her shallow Draft (4 ft), she could have been well-suited for coastal and inland lake navigation, possibly serving Michigan, Ontario, and Wisconsin ports.

She was part of a declining Schooner fleet, as by the late 19th century, steamships had begun replacing sailing vesselsfor most cargo transport on the Great Lakes.

Final Voyage & Loss

The Two Sisters was reportedly wrecked in a gale at Forest Bay, Lake Huron, sometime in 1899. Details of the incident are scarce, but she was likely stranded onshore and battered by waves, leading to her eventual destruction.

Her official documentation was surrendered at Port Huron on September 30, 1899, indicating she was considered a Total Loss by that date.

Previous Incident

September 3, 1889: The Two Sisters was reportedly struck by the Steamer R.A. Seymour. Some sources suggest that the wreckage of the Schooner had already sunk prior to this, meaning the Steamer may have simply collided with debris from an earlier wreck.

Final Disposition & Salvage

• Declared a Total Loss in 1899.
• No recorded salvage or wreck recovery efforts.
• No known modern discovery of her wreck.

Located By & Date Found

 No confirmed discovery of wreckage.  The site may remain undocumented or deteriorated due to time and lake conditions.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Forest Bay is a less-documented shipwreck area, but numerous vessels have been lost in storms along the Lake Huron coastline.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• Great Lakes Maritime Database (GLMD): https://greatlakeships.org
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org
• Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU): https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels

Conclusion

The Two Sisters was a small Schooner from the late Schooner era, likely engaged in coastal trade on Lake Huronbefore she met her end in a storm near Forest Bay in 1899. The uncertainty surrounding her final moments, including the possibility of being struck by a Steamer before sinking, adds an element of mystery to her fate. With no confirmed wreck discovery, she remains one of the many lost wooden schooners of the Great Lakes.