Shotline Diving

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Farrand H. Williams US 120474

Explore the wreck of the Farrand H. Williams, a scow-schooner lost in a storm in 1900, with remains scattered in the surf zone of Horseshoe Bay.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Farrand H. Williams
  • Type: Wooden scow-schooner
  • Year Built: 1882
  • Builder: F.H. Williams, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
  • Dimensions: 89 ft × 23 ft × 7 ft
  • Registered Tonnage: 95 GT / 90 NT
  • Location: Horseshoe Bay, northwest Door Peninsula, Lake Michigan
  • Official Number: 120474

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Farrand H. Williams was a wooden scow-schooner designed primarily for transporting cordwood and similar bulk loads on Lake Michigan.

Description

Built in 1882, the Farrand H. Williams measured 89 feet in length, 23 feet in beam, and had a depth of 7 feet. It was registered at 95 gross tons and 90 net tons.

History

The Farrand H. Williams was utilized for transporting cordwood across Lake Michigan. On September 11, 1900, while on a route across Horseshoe Bay, the vessel encountered a sudden squall, which drove it ashore. The ship grounded on boulder-strewn, shallow waters and was irreparably damaged.

Significant Incidents

  • September 11, 1900: Driven ashore during a sudden squall; grounded on boulder-strewn, shallow waters and pounded irreparably.
  • Initial salvage attempts failed, leading to the vessel being declared a total loss.

Final Disposition

After the wreck, the Farrand H. Williams was abandoned. Its remains are believed to lie in the surf zone, with broken planks, ribs, and cargo wood scattered and buried beneath shifting sands.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck site is expected to contain remains in the surf zone, with no successful salvage operations recorded. No hazard markers have been documented for the site.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”farrand-h-williams-us-120474″ title=”References & Links”]

The Farrand H. Williams serves as a significant maritime archaeological site, with potential for further research and documentation of local heritage.

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.

Identification & Build Details

  • Name: Farrand H. Williams
  • Official Number: 120474
  • Built: 1882 by F.H. Williams, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
  • Type: Wooden scow-schooner
  • Dimensions: 89 ft × 23 ft × 7 ft
  • Tonnage: 95 GT / 90 NT
  • Function: Transporting cordwood and similar bulk loads on Lake Michigan

Final Voyage & Loss

  • Date: September 11, 1900
  • Route: Transporting cordwood across Horseshoe Bay, northwest side of the Door Peninsula, WI
  • Cargo: Cordwood
  • Incident: Driven ashore during a sudden squall or storm; grounded on boulder-strewn, shallow waters and pounded irreparably
  • Salvage Attempt: Initial hopes of recovery failed, and the vessel became a total loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences)

Wreck Site & Condition

  • Location: Horseshoe Bay, northwest Door Peninsula, Lake Michigan — likely near Michigan Island/Magistrate Island area
  • Site Condition: Expected wreck remains lie in surf zone: broken planks, ribs, and cargo wood scattered and buried beneath shifting sands (Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
  • Salvage: None succeeded; no hazard markers recorded

Archival & Research Opportunities

  • Newspapers (Sep–Oct 1900):
    • Door County Sentinel, Sturgeon Bay Advocate, Green Bay Gazette, and Milwaukee papers for storm and wreck reports
  • USCG / LSS Logs:
    • Door County life-saving stations (Sturgeon Bay or Whitefish Bay) may have rescue or salvage incident logs
  • Salvage Documentation:
  • Chart Analysis & Field Survey:
    • Historic NOAA charts may record wreck location; side-scan sonar can detect debris in surf zone

Summary

The Farrand H. Williams, a small scow-schooner built in 1882 and carrying cordwood, was wrecked in a storm on September 11, 1900, off Horseshoe Bay in Door County, WI. Salvage efforts failed, and the vessel was abandoned amid the surf zone shallow waters. Her remains likely lie scattered along the boulder-lined shoreline, making her a compelling target for maritime archaeological survey and local heritage documentation.

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