Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Fame (1853)

Explore the remains of the Fame, a large wooden schooner converted to a lumber barge, wrecked in 1887 after a series of incidents.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Fame
  • Type: Large wooden schooner, later converted to a lumber barge
  • Year Built: 1853
  • Builder: Likely on Lake Erie shores
  • Dimensions: Approximately 156 ft long; Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage:
  • Location: Little Sable Point, Lake Michigan

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Type: Large wooden schooner, later converted to a lumber barge (in 1871)

Description

Built in 1853, the Fame was a sizable wooden schooner that was later converted to a lumber barge to adapt to changing cargo needs. The vessel measured approximately 156 feet in length, typical for large schooners of that era.

History

The Fame had a notable operational history, including a conversion in 1871 to a lumber barge. In September 1867, it was damaged in a collision on Lake Huron, although specific details of the incident are unrecorded. In 1880, the vessel struck and was dismasted near Little Sable Point, Lake Michigan, and was subsequently repaired at Port Huron. In 1885, it sprang a leak and sank at Sand Beach, Michigan, but was refloated or salvaged. The final loss occurred in 1887 when the Fame was driven ashore during a storm, resulting in extensive damage and abandonment.

Significant Incidents

  • 1871 Conversion: Rigged down to a lumber barge to reflect changing cargo needs.
  • September 1867: Damaged in a collision on Lake Huron (specifics unrecorded).
  • 1880 Incident: Struck and was dismasted near Little Sable Point, Lake Michigan. Subsequently repaired at Port Huron.
  • 1885 Event: Sprang a leak and sank at Sand Beach, Michigan; refloated or salvaged.
  • 1887 Demise: Driven ashore and wrecked (storm-dominated loss); extensively damaged and abandoned.

Final Disposition

After the wreck in 1887, timbers and fittings from the Fame were salvaged to repair or rebuild parts of the Presque Isle Lighthouse. NOAA’s Thunder Bay Sanctuary lists unidentified wreckage in shallow water that may belong to the Fame.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The current condition of the Fame is uncertain, but there are indications of submerged debris in shallow waters that may be associated with the wreck. Further exploration and research are needed to confirm the presence of remains.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”fame-1853″ title=”References & Links”]

The Fame began life in 1853 as a sizable schooner, later became a barge, and survived multiple serious incidents—including dismasting in 1880 and sinking in 1885—before finally wrecking in 1887. Elements of her structure lived on at Presque Isle Lighthouse, while her remains may still lie in shallow Lake Michigan or Huron waters.

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.

Built 1853 – Final Loss 1887, notable 1880 grounding

Identification & Vessel Details

  • Type: Large wooden schooner, later converted to a lumber barge (in 1871)
  • Built: 1853, likely on Lake Erie shores
  • Dimensions: Approximately 156 ft long—similar to other large schooners of the era (sanctuaries.noaa.gov)

Operational History & Early Incidents

Grounding, Repair, & Final Loss

  • 1880 Incident: Struck and was dismasted near Little Sable Point, Lake Michigan. Subsequently repaired at Port Huron (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • 1885 Event: Sprang a leak and sank at Sand Beach, Michigan; refloated or salvaged (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • 1887 Demise: Driven ashore and wrecked (storm-dominated loss); extensively damaged and abandoned (sanctuaries.noaa.gov)

Post-Wreck Legacy

  • Presque Isle Lighthouse: Timbers and fittings from Fame were salvaged to repair or rebuild parts of the old lighthouse after her wreck (presque-isle-alpena-history.blogspot.com)
  • Submerged Debris: NOAA’s Thunder Bay Sanctuary lists unidentified wreckage in shallow water possibly belonging to Fame (sanctuaries.noaa.gov)

Sources & Verification

Research & Archaeological Opportunities

  1. Timber Provenance Study: Investigate construction records of the prescriptive lighthouse to identify Fame lumber.
  2. Sonar Reconnaissance: Target shallow waters near presumed wreck site for submerged remains.
  3. Archival Dive: Check historical newspapers around 1887 for loss reports and salvage documentation.
  4. Lumber Trade Insight: Examine cargo manifests and ownership records through Chicago/Port Huron shipping registries.

Conclusion

The Fame began life in 1853 as a sizable schooner, later became a barge, and survived multiple serious incidents—including dismasting (1880) and sinking in 1885—before finally wrecking in 1887. Elements of her structure lived on at Presque Isle Lighthouse, while her remains may still lie in shallow Lake Michigan or Huron waters.

Would you like assistance diving into timber transfer records, planning an underwater site survey, or researching contemporary coverage of her wreck events?

Keywords: Fame • schooner‑barge • Little Sable Point • Presque Isle lighthouse • 1887 wreck • Great Lakes woodworking • NOAA Thunder Bay wrecks

fame-1853 1887-07-22 14:22:00