Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Frank Crawford
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1861
- Builder: R. Calkins (likely)
- Dimensions: 124 × 26 × 10 ft; approximately 310 tons (rebuilt later to 213 tons)
- Registered Tonnage: 310 tons (rebuilt to 213 tons)
- Location: Parents Bay, Garden Peninsula area, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 9209
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A mid-19th-century wooden schooner built for coastal cargo service—well-suited for lumber transport between Michigan ports.
Description
Built in 1861 and possibly rebuilt around 1872, Frank Crawford was engaged in the lumber trade for over two decades. On 29 October 1882, she encountered a severe storm while near Parents Bay (the Garden Peninsula). She was driven ashore, suffering a large hole in her bottom. The crew abandoned her, and by late November she was declared a total loss.
History
After striking the reef and taking on water, the schooner filled and sank at her wreck site. The vessel was officially abandoned late in November 1882.
Significant Incidents
- The grounding was discovered when local wreck listings recorded her loss.
- No GPS coordinates or underwater investigations have documented the remains.
Final Disposition
After striking the reef and taking on water, the schooner filled and sank at her wreck site. The vessel was officially abandoned late in November 1882.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern navigational markers denote the wreck. Parents Bay, along the Garden Peninsula shoreline, is known for shoals and storm exposure—caution advised in late fall.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”frank-crawford-us-s9209″ title=”References & Links”]
Schooner Frank Crawford, built in 1861, was wrecked on 29 October 1882 when driven onto a reef at Parents Bay during a violent storm. The crew escaped, but the vessel suffered fatal hull damage and was abandoned. Today, she’s an uncharted casualty of late-season Great Lakes storms.
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 & Site Information
- Name: Frank Crawford
- Built: 1861 at Pigeon River, Michigan (likely by R. Calkins)
- Official Number: 9209
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner
- Dimensions: 124 × 26 × 10 ft; approximately 310 tons (rebuilt later to 213 tons)
- Final Loss: 29 October 1882
- Location: Parents Bay, Garden Peninsula area, Lake Michigan
- Cargo: Cedar lumber
- Crew & Casualties: None reported
Vessel Type
A mid-19th-century wooden schooner built for coastal cargo service—well-suited for lumber transport between Michigan ports.
History & Final Voyage
Built in 1861 and possibly rebuilt around 1872, Frank Crawford was engaged in the lumber trade for over two decades. On 29 October 1882, she encountered a severe storm while near Parents Bay (the Garden Peninsula). She was driven ashore, suffering a large hole in her bottom. The crew abandoned her, and by late November she was declared a total loss.
Final Disposition
After striking the reef and taking on water, the schooner filled and sank at her wreck site. The vessel was officially abandoned late in November 1882.
Located By & Date Found
The grounding was discovered when local wreck listings recorded her loss. No GPS coordinates or underwater investigations have documented the remains.
Notmars & Advisories
No modern navigational markers denote the wreck. Parents Bay, along the Garden Peninsula shoreline, is known for shoals and storm exposure—caution advised in late fall.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry with build data, loss description, and abandonment details (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, history.uscg.mil)
- “History of the Great Lakes” chapter noting schooner losses in Parents Bay, including Frank Crawford (linkstothepast.com)
Conclusion
Schooner Frank Crawford, built in 1861, was wrecked on 29 October 1882 when driven onto a reef at Parents Bay during a violent storm. The crew escaped, but the vessel suffered fatal hull damage and was abandoned. Today, she’s an uncharted casualty of late-season Great Lakes storms.