Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: CELIA
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1868
- Builder: Philbrook
- Dimensions: Length 43.6 ft (13.3 m); Beam 11 ft (3.35 m); Depth of hold 5.6 ft (1.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 17 gross tons
- Location: Off Grand Traverse, Lake Michigan
- Original Owners: Willie Graham, Joseph Graham
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A small two-masted wooden schooner intended primarily for regional fishing and light cargo transport on Lake Michigan and nearby waters.
Description
The CELIA measured 13.3 metres (43.6 feet) in length, with a beam of 3.35 metres (11 feet) and a depth of 1.7 metres (5.6 feet), registering 17 gross tons. Her modest size, single deck, and schooner rig made her economical to operate, with a shallow draft suitable for coastal and harbour use.
History
The CELIA was built in 1868 at Peshtigo, Wisconsin, by the builder Philbrook, and enrolled in Milwaukee. She was first registered for general trade and fishing. By 1874, the schooner was owned by Willie Graham and chartered to M.F. Kalmbach of Fort Howard, Wisconsin, for fishing. In 1875, she was sold to Joseph Graham, also of Wisconsin, suggesting she remained in local commercial use, likely as a fish carrier and light cargo hauler.
No major rebuilds or conversions are documented, and her career appears to have been relatively uneventful until her final voyage.
Significant Incidents
- Final Location: Off Grand Traverse, Lake Michigan
- Date Lost: 2 May 1882
- How Lost: Capsized
- Final Cargo: Not specified
Final Disposition
On 2 May 1882, the CELIA capsized off Grand Traverse, Michigan, in Lake Michigan. Fortunately, her crew were rescued by the passing steamer VAN RAALTE and taken to St. Ignace. The schooner was lost and presumably sank shortly afterward; no records of salvage or later recovery are known.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no documented records of the CELIA being located or surveyed to date.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”celia-1868″ title=”References & Links”]
The CELIA of 1868 represents a typical small Great Lakes schooner that served in the fishing and coastal trade of Wisconsin and Michigan. Her loss, though not resulting in fatalities thanks to a successful rescue, is a reminder of the hazards even smaller working vessels faced on Lake Michigan during the 19th century.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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