Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

A. L. Abbell (C. L. Abell)(1855)

Explore the wreck of the A. L. Abbell, a wooden schooner lost in 1861 during a storm in the Straits of Mackinac, carrying a cargo of fish.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: A. L. Abbell
  • Type: Schooner, wood
  • Year Built: 1855
  • Builder: Geo. Hardison, Buffalo, New York
  • Dimensions:
  • Registered Tonnage: 64 tons
  • Location: Waugoschance Point, Straits of Mackinac
  • Official Number: None

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The A. L. ABBELL was a wooden schooner, a common vessel type on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century. Schooners were favored for their ability to handle varying cargoes and navigate both open waters and narrow straits efficiently.

Description

The A. L. ABBELL served primarily as a cargo schooner, and at the time of its loss, it was transporting a significant load of fish, indicating its role in supporting the fishing industry around the Great Lakes. Vessels like this were crucial in moving goods between small ports and larger distribution centers, especially in Michigan and New York. Built in Buffalo, New York in 1855 by George Hardison, the A. L. ABBELL operated out of Grand Traverse (now Traverse City), Michigan. Its primary trade routes likely included runs between Michigan, Wisconsin, and New York, transporting goods like fish, lumber, and agricultural products.

During its six years of service, the schooner operated in one of the most treacherous regions of the Great Lakes—the Straits of Mackinac. This narrow passage, connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, was notorious for unpredictable weather and dangerous shoals.

Significant Incidents

  • In November 1861, the A. L. ABBELL encountered a storm near Waugoschance Point in the Straits of Mackinac.
  • The vessel struck bottom in shallow waters and became wrecked.
  • Despite efforts from a group sent from Mackinac to salvage the ship, they found it too damaged to recover.
  • The cargo, consisting of 500 half-barrels of fish, was likely lost with the vessel.

Final Disposition

In November 1861, the A. L. ABBELL encountered a storm near Waugoschance Point in the Straits of Mackinac. The vessel struck bottom in shallow waters and became wrecked. Despite efforts from a group sent from Mackinac to salvage the ship, they found it too damaged to recover. Instead, they stripped the vessel of any valuable materials and abandoned it.

The schooner’s master, Captain Stoddard, and the crew managed to escape, with no loss of life reported.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Nil returns – No confirmed discovery or survey of the wreck has been reported.

Nil returns – There are no current advisories or obstructions noted at the site of the wreck.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”a-l-abbell-c-l-abell1855″ title=”References & Links”]

The A. L. ABBELL represents one of the many small working schooners that navigated the perilous waters of the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century. Its loss near Waugoschance Point highlights the dangers faced by mariners, particularly in the Straits of Mackinac, where storms and shallow waters frequently claimed vessels. While its wreck has yet to be discovered, the A. L. ABBELL remains part of the rich maritime history of Lake Michigan and 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:

Vessel Type:

The A. L. ABBELL was a wooden schooner, a common vessel type on the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century. Schooners were favored for their ability to handle varying cargoes and navigate both open waters and narrow straits efficiently.

Description:

The A. L. ABBELL served primarily as a cargo schooner, and at the time of its loss, it was transporting a significant load of fish, indicating its role in supporting the fishing industry around the Great Lakes. Vessels like this were crucial in moving goods between small ports and larger distribution centers, especially in Michigan and New York. Built in Buffalo, New York in 1855 by George Hardison, the A. L. ABBELL operated out of Grand Traverse (now Traverse City), Michigan. Its primary trade routes likely included runs between Michigan, Wisconsin, and New York, transporting goods like fish, lumber, and agricultural products.

During its six years of service, the schooner operated in one of the most treacherous regions of the Great Lakes—the Straits of Mackinac. This narrow passage, connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, was notorious for unpredictable weather and dangerous shoals.

Final Disposition:

In November 1861, the A. L. ABBELL encountered a storm near Waugoschance Point in the Straits of Mackinac. The vessel struck bottom in shallow waters and became wrecked. Despite efforts from a group sent from Mackinac to salvage the ship, they found it too damaged to recover. Instead, they stripped the vessel of any valuable materials and abandoned it.

The schooner’s master, Captain Stoddard, and the crew managed to escape, with no loss of life reported. The cargo, consisting of 500 half-barrels of fish, was likely lost with the vessel.

Located By & Date Found:

Nil returns – No confirmed discovery or survey of the wreck has been reported.

Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) & Advisories:

Nil returns – There are no current advisories or obstructions noted at the site of the wreck.

Resources & Links:

Conclusion:

The A. L. ABBELL represents one of the many small working schooners that navigated the perilous waters of the Great Lakes during the mid-19th century. Its loss near Waugoschance Point highlights the dangers faced by mariners, particularly in the Straits of Mackinac, where storms and shallow waters frequently claimed vessels. While its wreck has yet to be discovered, the A. L. ABBELL remains part of the rich maritime history of Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes region.

Tags & Keywords:

#GreatLakesShipwrecks #LakeMichigan #Schooner #StraitsOfMackinac #MaritimeHistory #FishTrade #19thCenturyShipping #WaugoschancePoint

a-l-abbell-c-l-abell1855 1861-11-14 07:56:00