Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Geo. Davis
- Type: wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1882
- Builder: G. Davis in Sebewaing, Michigan
- Dimensions: ~47 × 12 × 3 ft; 15 gross / 14 net tons
- Registered Tonnage: 15 gross / 14 net tons
- Location: Near Wenona Beach, Saginaw Bay (or Point Edward)
- Official Number: 85719
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Geo. Davis was a wooden schooner, a type of sailing vessel characterized by its fore-and-aft rigging and typically used for cargo transport on the Great Lakes.
Description
Built in 1882, the Geo. Davis measured approximately 47 feet in length, 12 feet in beam, and 3 feet in depth. It had a registered tonnage of 15 gross tons and 14 net tons. The vessel was registered under Official Number 85719 and was flagged in the United States.
History
The Geo. Davis was constructed by G. Davis in Sebewaing, Michigan. It served in various capacities typical of wooden schooners of its time, primarily engaged in trade and transport across the Great Lakes.
Significant Incidents
- On May 25, 1901, the Geo. Davis was driven ashore nearly high and dry near Wenona Beach in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron. A dredge was reportedly needed to recover her, indicating she grounded in shallow sand or mud flat.
- The vessel was considered not worth saving, and she remained stranded. Loss of life: none documented.
- Some sources list October 1, 1901 as the loss date and place the location near Point Edward, Lake Huron, rather than Saginaw Bay. This discrepancy likely reflects conflicting regional reporting or misidentification in registries.
Final Disposition
The Geo. Davis was abandoned as unsalvageable after being driven ashore. No salvage attempts were made, and the vessel remained stranded.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is unknown, as it has not been salvaged or documented since its grounding. Accessibility for divers may be limited due to its location and the potential for sediment accumulation.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”geo-davis-us-85719″ title=”References & Links”]
The Geo. Davis was a small wooden schooner lost in late May 1901, when blown ashore near Wenona Beach in Saginaw Bay. No casualties occurred, and she was abandoned as unsalvageable. A second listing pointing to October 1 near Point Edward likely reflects a reporting error or duplication in registry indexing. If you’d like assistance accessing local newspaper archives, insurance documents, or port authority records to resolve this further, I’d be glad to help.
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 1882; lost May 25 or October 1, 1901)
Identification & General Specifications
- Vessel Name: Geo. Davis (wooden schooner), Official Number 85719
- Built: 1882 by G. Davis in Sebewaing, Michigan
- Dimensions: ~47 × 12 × 3 ft; 15 gross / 14 net tons
- Flag: U.S., based on registry entries from Michigan
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Voyage & Loss Details
Primary Account — May 25, 1901
- On May 25, 1901, Geo. Davis was driven ashore nearly high and dry, reportedly near Wenona Beach in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron. A dredge was reportedly needed to recover her—indicating she grounded in shallow sand or mud flat.
- The vessel was considered not worth saving, and she remained stranded. Loss of life: none documented (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Alternate Account — October 1, 1901
- Some sources list October 1, 1901 as the loss date and place the location near Point Edward, Lake Huron, rather than Saginaw Bay. This discrepancy likely reflects conflicting regional reporting or misidentification in registries (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Summary Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Geo. Davis |
| Built & Year | 1882, Sebewaing, MI |
| Official No. | 85719 |
| Dimensions | ~47 × 12 × 3 ft; ~15 gt |
| Loss Date(s) | May 25, 1901 (primary) or Oct 1, 1901 (alternate) |
| Location | Near Wenona Beach, Saginaw Bay (or Point Edward) |
| Cause of Loss | Driven ashore in storm; grounded high dry |
| Casualties | None reported |
| Salvage Status | Not attempted; vessel considered unsalvageable |
Context & Research Notes
- Official summary entries (1930s-era loss database) list the main account on May 25, 1901, in Saginaw Bay—likely based on formal incident report or regional registry entry.
- The alternative October 1, 1901 / Point Edward listing appears in parallel loss logs, possibly reflecting confusion with another vessel or mistaken record updating.
- Given the overlap in loss description (“driven high and dry” and unsalvageable), the May 25 account is most consistent with registry detail; the October 1 date/location may derive from tourism or port authority confusion.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Research Suggestions
To clarify discrepancies and deepen the profile:
- Local Newspapers (May 1901) — Saginaw Daily News, Bay City Tribune or regional fishing journals may confirm the Wenona Beach grounding and salvage response.
- Port Registers & Enrollment Logs — Saginaw and Port Huron authorities may note vessel’s approach and grounding.
- Underwriters’ or Insurance Archives — Loss report tied to Official No. 85719 might specify final disposition.
- Repeat lodging of October incident — Investigate if another schooner grounding was misfiled under Geo. Davis on October 1 near Point Edward.
Conclusion
Geo. Davis was a small wooden schooner lost in late May 1901, when blown ashore near Wenona Beach in Saginaw Bay. No casualties occurred, and she was abandoned as unsalvageable. A second listing pointing to October 1 near Point Edward likely reflects a reporting error or duplication in registry indexing. If you’d like assistance accessing local newspaper archives, insurance documents, or port authority records to resolve this further, I’d be glad to help.
geo-davis-us-85719 1901-05-25 09:41:00