Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

A.C. Pierce (1887)

Explore the wreck of the A.C. Pierce, a wooden schooner-barge lost in a storm on Lake Michigan in 1915.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: A.C. Pierce
  • Type: Wooden schooner-barge
  • Year Built: 1887
  • Builder:
  • Dimensions: Length X ft; Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: Not specified
  • Location: South Fox Island, Lake Michigan
  • Official Number: Not available

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Wooden schooner-barge.

Description

The A.C. Pierce was a wooden schooner-barge, a type of vessel commonly used on the Great Lakes during the late 19th and early 20th centuries for transporting bulk cargoes.

History

Built in 1887, the A.C. Pierce served as a cargo vessel on the Great Lakes for 28 years. On August 15, 1915, while carrying a load possibly consisting of fruit, the vessel encountered a severe storm on Lake Michigan. The storm caused the A.C. Pierce to strand on the shore of South Fox Island, where it was subsequently broken up by waves. Details regarding the fate of the crew at the time of loss are not specified in the available records.

Significant Incidents

  • Stranded during a storm on August 15, 1915.

Final Disposition

The A.C. Pierce was declared a total loss following the incident. There are no records indicating that any part of the vessel was salvaged or that the wreck was recovered.

Current Condition & Accessibility

There is no available information indicating that the wreck of the A.C. Pierce has been located or identified in modern times. There are no current navigational markers or advisories related to the wreck site.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”a-c-pierce-1887″ title=”References & Links”]

The A.C. Pierce’s wreck underscores the hazards faced by schooner-barges navigating the often treacherous waters of Lake Michigan. While the vessel’s remains have not been located, its story contributes to the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes region.

Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record

This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.

Identification & Site Information.

  • Name: A.C. Pierce
  • Former Names: None
  • Official Number: Not available
  • Date Built and Launched: 1887
  • Measurements:
    • Length: Not specified
    • Beam: Not specified
    • Depth: Not specified
    • Tonnage: Not specified
  • Date Lost: August 15, 1915
  • Cause: Stranded during a storm
  • Cargo at Time of Loss: Possibly fruit
  • Place of Loss: South Fox Island, Lake Michigan(FRASER, FRASER, MPR News, whimsea.net, WPBN, Flickr, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)

Vessel Type

Wooden schooner-barg.

Description

The A.C. Pierce was a wooden schooner-barge, a type of vessel commonly used on the Great Lakes during the late 19th and early 20th centuries for transporting bulk cargoes.

History

Built in 1887, the A.C. Pierce served as a cargo vessel on the Great Lakes for 28 years. On August 15, 1915, while carrying a load possibly consisting of fruit, the vessel encountered a severe storm on Lake Michigan. The storm caused the A.C. Pierce to strand on the shore of South Fox Island, where it was subsequently broken up by waves. Details regarding the fate of the crew at the time of loss are not specified in the available records.

Final Disposition

The A.C. Pierce was declared a total loss following the incident. There are no records indicating that any part of the vessel was salvaged or that the wreck was recovered.

Located By & Date Found

There is no available information indicating that the wreck of the A.C. Pierce has been located or identified in modern times.

Notmars & Advisories

There are no current navigational markers or advisories related to the wreck site of the A.C. Pierce.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The A.C. Pierce’s wreck underscores the hazards faced by schooner-barges navigating the often treacherous waters of Lake Michigan. While the vessel’s remains have not been located, its story contributes to the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes region.

Suggested Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

  • Keywords: A.C. Pierce, Lake Michigan shipwreck, wooden schooner-barge, 1915 storm, South Fox Island
  • Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Maritime Disasters, Wooden Schooner-Barges
  • Glossary Terms:
    • Schooner-Barge: A sailing vessel with two or more masts, typically used for transporting bulk cargoes on the Great Lakes.
    • Stranded: A term used to describe a vessel that has run aground or is stuck on a shore or reef.

A.C. Keating (1874–1900)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: A.C. Keating
  • Former Names: None
  • Official Number: 105346
  • Date Built and Launched: 1874, constructed by A. Turner in Trenton, Michigan
  • Measurements:
    • Length: 138 feet (42.06 metres)
    • Beam: 26 feet (7.92 metres)
    • Depth: 11 feet (3.35 metres)
    • Gross Tonnage: 326 tons (approx. 295.7 metric tonnes)
    • Net Tonnage: 310 tons (approx. 281.2 metric tonnes)
  • Date Lost: November 8, 1900
  • Cause: Stranded during a storm
  • Cargo at Time of Loss: Pulpwood
  • Place of Loss: Coppermine Point, Ontario, Lake Superior(WPBN)

Vessel Type

Wooden schooner-barge

Description

The A.C. Keating was a two-masted wooden schooner-barge designed for the transportation of bulk goods across the Great Lakes. Such vessels were integral to commerce in the region, facilitating the movement of essential commodities between ports.

History

Built in 1874 by A. Turner in Trenton, Michigan, the A.C. Keating served as a cargo vessel on the Great Lakes for 26 years. On November 8, 1900, while carrying a load of pulpwood, the vessel encountered a severe storm on Lake Superior. The towing steamer, J.H. Outhwaite, developed engine trouble during the storm and left the A.C. Keating at anchor with two other barges at Coppermine Point, Ontario. The A.C. Keating slipped her hold on the bottom and was driven into the rocky shore, where she broke up. 

Final Disposition

The A.C. Keating was declared a total loss following the incident. There are no records indicating that any part of the vessel was salvaged or that the wreck was recovered.

Located By & Date Found

There is no available information indicating that the wreck of the A.C. Keating has been located or identified in modern times.

Notmars & Advisories

There are no current navigational markers or advisories related to the wreck site of the A.C. Keating.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The A.C. Keating’s wreck underscores the hazards faced by schooner-barges navigating the often treacherous waters of Lake Superior. While the vessel’s remains have not been located, its story contributes to the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes region.

Suggested Keywords, Categories, and Glossary Terms

  • Keywords: A.C. Keating, Lake Superior shipwreck, wooden schooner-barge, 1900 storm, Coppermine Point Ontario, pulpwood cargo
  • Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Maritime Disasters, Wooden Schooner-Barges
  • Glossary Terms:
    • Schooner-Barge: A sailing vessel with two or more masts, typically used for transporting bulk cargoes on the Great Lakes.
    • Pulpwood: Timber suitable for making into pulp for paper production.
    • Stranded: A term used to describe a vessel that has run aground or is stuck on a shore or reef.
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