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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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