Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Conrad Reid
- Type: Wooden, three-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1881
- Builder: Lorain, Ohio
- Dimensions: 132.6 ft (40.4 m) length × 29.7 ft (9.05 m) beam × 9.3 ft (2.84 m) depth
- Registered Tonnage: 288 GT / 274 NT
- Location:
- Original Owners: John C. Garey (Saginaw, MI)
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A late-19th-century freight schooner, built for general cargo transport—likely lumber or bulk goods—common on the Great Lakes during this period.
Description
Single-deck sailing vessel with three masts (probably topsail schooner rigging), constructed with robust framing typical of freight schooners meant to endure Great Lakes conditions.
History
- 1884: Towed by the steamer Missouri, operating between Au Sable (MI) and Cleveland; likely transporting lumber
- 1889: Under tow of C. F. Curtis
- 1 Feb 1890: Owned by John C. Garey (Saginaw, MI); towed by Martina
- 1899: Again towed, this time by W. P. Thew
- The reliance on being under tow suggests she was used as a sail-equipped barge for bulk transport, minimizing crew requirements and costs.
Significant Incidents
No record of wreck, sinking, or other loss has been found. She appears to have remained in service post-1899. No final date of loss or abandonment is listed in available records.
Final Disposition
Not applicable—no wreck site has been recorded.
Current Condition & Accessibility
None—no navigational hazard or wreck site is noted.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”conrad-reid-1881″ title=”References & Links”]
The Conrad Reid, launched in 1881, was a workhorse schooner towed by steamers across the Great Lakes well into the late 1890s. Its lack of incident or wreck record suggests a successful—if anonymous—operational life. Likely decommissioned, repurposed, or gradually dismantled in the early 20th century, but no formal documentation survives.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Conrad Reid
- Year built: 1881
- Place built: Lorain, Ohio
- Type: Wooden, three‑masted schooner
- Propulsion: Sail-powered (no auxiliary engine noted)
- Dimensions: 40.4 m (132.6 ft) length × 9.05 m (29.7 ft) beam × 2.84 m (9.3 ft) depth
- Tonnage: 288 GT / 274 NT
Vessel Type
A late-19th-century freight schooner, built for general cargo transport—likely lumber or bulk goods—common on the Great Lakes during this period.
Description
Single-deck sailing vessel with three masts (probably topsail schooner rigging), constructed with robust framing typical of freight schooners meant to endure Great Lakes conditions.
Operational History
- 1884: Towed by the steamer Missouri, operating between Au Sable (MI) and Cleveland; likely transporting lumber
- 1889: Under tow of C. F. Curtis
- 1 Feb 1890: Owned by John C. Garey (Saginaw, MI); towed by Martina
- 1899: Again towed, this time by W. P. Thew
- The reliance on being under tow suggests she was used as a sail-equipped barge for bulk transport, minimizing crew requirements and costs.
Final Disposition
No record of wreck, sinking, or other loss has been found. She appears to have remained in service post-1899. No final date of loss or abandonment is listed in available records.
Located By & Date Found
Not applicable—no wreck site has been recorded.
Notmars & Advisories
None—no navigational hazard or wreck site is noted.
Resources & Links
- Enrollment and tow records as listed in registry summaries
- Historical notes indicating her towed operation across Great Lakes on multiple occasions
- Marine Biographies of the Great Lakes mentions: “He sailed the Conrad Reid two seasons…” (linkstothepast.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, wisconsinshipwrecks.org, en.wikipedia.org)
Conclusion
The Conrad Reid, launched in 1881, was a workhorse schooner towed by steamers across the Great Lakes well into the late 1890s. Its lack of incident or wreck record suggests a successful—if anonymous—operational life. Likely decommissioned, repurposed, or gradually dismantled in the early 20th century, but no formal documentation survives.
Keywords & Glossary
- Wooden freight schooner
- Towed barge operations
- Late-19th-century sail commerce
- Great Lakes trade schooner