Forfar US 9197

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Forfar
• Type: Wooden schooner
• Year Built: 1855
• Builder: J. Phillips
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: Approx. 119 tons post-1865 rebuild
• Location: Off Muskegon, Michigan
• Official Number: 9197
• Original Owners: James Bowen of Chicago

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

A mid–19th-century Great Lakes schooner built for bulk cargo transport. The 1865 rebuild likely restored sailing capability following earlier damage.

Description

The Forfar was a wooden schooner originally built in 1855 in Chicago, Illinois. It was designed for transporting bulk cargo across the Great Lakes. After suffering damage early in its service, it underwent a significant rebuild in 1865, which likely restored its sailing capabilities.

History

• 1855–1865: Encountered repeated incidents:
  • Disabled off the Manitou Islands in 1855, drove ashore near Waukegan and declared a total loss, but was recovered.
  • Rebuilt in 1865, but operational details remain limited.
• 1868 Final voyage: Owned by James Bowen of Chicago; caught in a fall storm off Muskegon and driven ashore on 7 October 1868. She broke apart and was declared a total loss.

Significant Incidents

• 1855: Disabled off the Manitou Islands.
• 1855: Drove ashore near Waukegan and declared a total loss, but was recovered.
• 1868: Caught in a fall storm off Muskegon, resulting in the loss of four crew members.

Final Disposition

The Forfar broke up on the shore wrecked by storm-swept seas. No salvage occurred, and her remains were abandoned.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No underwater wreck surveys or modern archaeological finds exist; final location remains unmarked and undocumented.

Resources & Links

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The Forfar exemplifies the vulnerability of mid–1800s wooden schooners on Lake Michigan. Built in Chicago, it suffered damage shortly after launching only to be rebuilt. Its final loss in October 1868 was tragic, with four lives lost in a fall storm. The wreck lies partially or wholly on the Muskegon shoreline, with no known archaeological documentation. Her story is emblematic of the perilous nature of Great Lakes navigation before the advent of modern safety and charting systems.