Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Harvey Ransom
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1887
- Builder: Likely at a Great Lakes shipyard
- Dimensions: Unknown
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown
- Location: Along the Lake Michigan shore (near bluff)
- Coordinates: Unknown
- Official Number: Unknown
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A late-19th/early-20th-century wooden schooner, likely used for bulk or retail freight along the Michigan coast.
Description
Records indicate she turned into a protective inshore stance to wait out a gale on 1 November 1913. While stationary near the bluff, a large wave lifted the bow, forcing her onto the beach. She grounded hard and broke apart in the surf. No fatalities occurred; crew survived onshore.
History
- Great Lakes Storm of 1913 Context: This powerful storm (7–10 November 1913) sank 19 ships, stranded many others, causing over 250 lives lost.
- Though relatively minor, Harvey Ransom was among those affected—driven ashore on the storm’s flank.
- Her exact rescue and beaching details are unreported, but her hull likely disintegrated quickly post-stranding.
Significant Incidents
- No contemporary navigational hazards tied to her wreck. Her remains likely broken and scattered near the bluff.
Final Disposition
Wreckage was abandoned post-grounding; the vessel was declared a total loss. No salvage operation is recorded.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no dive or archaeological records. The site is uncharted and has received scant attention from charting or maritime historians.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”harvey-ransom-1887″ title=”References & Links”]
The Harvey Ransom represents one of the many smaller schooners that were caught up in the broad sweep of the Great Lakes Storm of 1913. Although overshadowed by large-scale tragedies, her grounding illustrates the perils faced even when seeking safety from the storm. That she was driven ashore by a wave while stationary underscores the violence of the event’s outer margins.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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