Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Erie Stewart
- Type: wooden two-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1874
- Builder:
- Dimensions: 80-120 ft (24.38-36.58 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: unknown
- Location: Port Huron harbor entrance, Lake Huron
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A standard mid–late 19th-century wooden schooner, rigged for coastal freight, likely between 80–120 ft in length. Built to carry light cargo—common in Great Lakes service. No intact plans found yet; further archival digging needed for tonnage and dimensions details.
Description
The Erie Stewart was a wooden two-masted schooner built in 1874. It was designed for coastal freight, typical of the era, and was likely used for transporting light cargo across the Great Lakes.
History
On October 7, 1907, while seeking shelter from a storm, Erie Stewart entered Port Huron harbor. She missed the entrance gap and rammed directly into the breakwall/pier, severing the navigation range light on Chantry Island dock. The schooner broke apart under wave action, with no mention of casualties; the crew likely survived via nearby harbor resources.
Significant Incidents
- October 7, 1907: The Erie Stewart collided with the breakwall while attempting to enter Port Huron harbor during a storm.
- The vessel broke apart due to wave action, but no casualties were reported.
Final Disposition
The vessel shattered on the pier and was deemed a total loss; no records of salvage have emerged. Official documentation was surrendered shortly after, likely leading to deregistration around October 31, 1907, in Port Huron.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is located immediately at the Port’s breakwall, beside the light station/reference post, probably in very shallow harbor waters. Timber and hardware are likely ground into the pier or harbor bottom, subject to salvaging and harbor dredging. No known underwater survey or diver report exists.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”erie-stewart-1874″ title=”References & Links”]
The Erie Stewart was a relatively small wooden schooner caught in an autumn storm, resulting in impact with the Port Huron pier and rapid destruction. No casualties were recorded, but the event damaged navigational infrastructure and closed her service life. Given its shallow, harbor-adjacent wreck, targeted archival research and a basic underwater/shore survey could illuminate further construction details and historical context.
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: Erie Stewart
- Built: 1874 (wooden two-masted schooner)
- Loss Date: October 7, 1907
- Location: Harbor at Port Huron (Chantry Island dock area, Lake Huron, Ontario/Michigan region) (brucemuseum.pastperfectonline.com, alcheminc.com)
Vessel Type & Description
A standard mid‑late 19th-century wooden schooner, rigged for coastal freight, likely between 80–120 ft in length. Built to carry light cargo—common in Great Lakes service. No intact plans found yet; further archival digging needed for tonnage and dimensions details.
Final Voyage & Loss
- On October 7, 1907, while seeking shelter from a storm, Erie Stewart entered Port Huron harbor.—she missed the entrance gap and rammed directly into the breakwall/pier, severing the navigation range light on Chantry Island dock (brucemuseum.pastperfectonline.com).
- The schooner broke apart under wave action, with no mention of casualties; crew likely survived via nearby harbor resources (e.g., Carey Island lifeboat launch) (violetsky-wwwblogger.blogspot.com).
Final Disposition
- The vessel shattered on the pier and was deemed a total loss; no records of salvage have emerged.
- Official documentation surrendered shortly after: likely deregistration around October 31, 1907 in Port Huron (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Wreck Condition & Site
- Location: Immediately at the Port’s breakwall, beside the light station/reference post; probably in very shallow harbor waters.
- Condition: Timber and hardware likely ground into the pier or harbor bottom—subject to salvaging and harbor dredging. No known underwater survey or diver report exists.
Research Gaps & Next Steps
| Area | Action |
|---|---|
| Construction Details | Search Port Huron shipyard registries (1874) for tonnage, dimensions, and technical drawings. |
| Crew & Casualty Records | Examine Life Saving Service reports and local newspapers (Oct 1907) at Port Huron / Macomb County archives. |
| Harbor Engineering Reports | Review U.S./Canadian harbor authorities’ records for breakwall damage reports and navigational light restoration logs post‑October 1907. |
| Underwater / Shore Survey | Conduct visual inspection of harbor floor near breakwater; side-scan sonar may reveal buried timbers or iron fasteners. |
| Regulatory Documents | Acquire deregistration paperwork and insurance reports from early November 1907, likely housed in Michigan’s Secretary of State marine registry. |
Summary Profile
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Erie Stewart |
| Built | 1874, wood schooner |
| Length/Tonnage | Unknown (likely 80–120 ft, 100–200 grt) |
| Loss Date | October 7, 1907 |
| Location | Port Huron harbor entrance, Lake Huron |
| Cause of Loss | Storm‑induced grounding; collision with pier |
| Casualties | None reported; crew survival implied |
| Wreck Status | Broken on pier; likely dismantled or buried |
Significance
- This incident highlights the navigational hazards at harbor entrances during storms, and the inadequacy of early 20th-century shelter methods.
- Damage to the navigation light emphasizes vulnerability of fledgling harbor infrastructure.
- The Erie Stewart also represents the twilight of merchant sail in Great Lakes service, displaced by steamboats and tugs.
Resources & Links
- Bruce County Museum summary of incident and light damage (Oct 7, 1907) (brucemuseum.pastperfectonline.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, alcheminc.com, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Local eyewitness report referencing crew rescue on Chantry Island dock (brucemuseum.pastperfectonline.com)
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files note of registration surrender Oct 31 1907 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Conclusion
The Erie Stewart was a relatively small wooden schooner caught in an autumn storm, resulting in impact with the Port Huron pier and rapid destruction. No casualties were recorded, but the event damaged navigational infrastructure and closed her service life. Given its shallow, harbor-adjacent wreck, targeted archival research and a basic underwater/shoreside survey could illuminate further construction details and historical context. Let me know if you’d like help drafting archive requests or planning a survey.
erie-stewart-1874 1907-10-07 17:04:00