Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Corisande (Star)
- Type: Wood-hulled schooner
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: William Jamison at Mill Point (now Deseronto), Ontario
- Dimensions: Length: 136 ft (41.5 m); Beam: 26 ft (7.9 m); Depth: 11 ft 1 in (3.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 350 gross tons, 275 net tons
- Location: Off Sarnia, Ontario, in Lake Huron
- Official Number: 71163
- Original Owners: Huron & Ontario Transportation Co., Williamson et al.
- Number of Masts: Three masts
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Star/Corisande was a substantial three-masted rig suited for bulk freight—timber, coal, and grain—across the Great Lakes. These large wooden schooners dominated the late 19th-century lake trade before steel-hulled freighters became prevalent.
Description
The schooner sank during the 1913 lake storm and was salvaged as a hulk but not repaired or put to use. Likely scrapped or broken up.
History
- 1873: Built at Mill Point under ownership of Huron & Ontario Transportation Co., Port Hope, Ontario.
- 1875: Underwent repairs, indicating robust use.
- 1876: Ownership transferred to Williamson et al., Mill Point.
- 1880: Renamed Corisande, suggesting a change in role or owner.
- 1913: Encountered a severe gale near the St. Clair River and Sarnia. The Corisande foundered, sinking during the storm in Lake Huron. Her hull was later salvaged by J. Miller but was never returned to service.
Significant Incidents
No modern dive surveys have identified her wreckage. The site is presumed in deeper waters offshore Sarnia, with only historical reports confirming her loss and recovery of hulk.
Final Disposition
The schooner sank during the 1913 lake storm and was salvaged as a hulk but not repaired or put to use. Likely scrapped or broken up.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- Condition: Unknown. Unlikely to be intact; wooden hull deteriorated or dismantled post-salvage.
- Accessibility: No known dive access. Considered of historical interest only.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”corisande-star-1873″ title=”References & Links”]
The Star (later Corisande) was a significant but ultimately silent victim of the Great Storm of 1913. Built in 1873 and serving for four decades, her demise near Sarnia marked the fading legacy of wooden schooners. Though no remains are known today, she remains part of the lake’s deep-lake maritime history.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →