Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: J.E. Bailey
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1874
- Builder: Bailey Brothers, Toledo, OH
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 196 tons
- Location: Gill's Pier, Michigan
- Official Number: 75646
- Original Owners: H. Lutts of Toledo
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
J.E. Bailey was a two-masted wooden schooner, representative of the regional coastal and lumber transport vessels operating on the upper Great Lakes in the late 19th century.
Description
- Construction: Wood hull, single deck
- Builder: Bailey Brothers, Toledo, OH
- Tonnage (Gross): 196 tons
- Number of Masts: 2
History
Built in 1874 by Bailey Brothers in Toledo, J.E. Bailey entered service during the peak of the Great Lakes lumber and bulk trade era. Early records list ownership under H. Lutts of Toledo by 1876, and the schooner was referred to as “kneed off” in records—likely indicating hull repairs or reinforcement via transverse “knees” (brackets).
- 1876–1879: Remained under the ownership of H. Lutts, operating out of Toledo.
- 1880: Described as a “low barge”—suggesting conversion or degraded sail capacity, possibly functioning primarily in tow.
- October 1884: Ran ashore near Gill’s Pier, Michigan, while carrying wood. Declared a total loss.
Significant Incidents
- October 1884: The J.E. Bailey ran ashore near Gill’s Pier while carrying wood and was declared a total loss.
Final Disposition
Wrecked ashore at Gill’s Pier on Lake Michigan in 1884. She was carrying wood at the time and was deemed unsalvageable.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No known modern wreck location or discovery has been recorded publicly.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”j-e-bailey-us-75646″ title=”References & Links”]
The J.E. Bailey served during a critical period of Great Lakes commerce, particularly in the lumber trade. Her wreck off Gill’s Pier reflects the vulnerability of such schooners to grounding and storm-related losses along the lee shores of Lake Michigan.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: J.E. Bailey
- Official Number: 75646
- Year Built: 1874
- Built at: Toledo, Ohio
- Final Location: Gill’s Pier, Michigan
- Body of Water: Lake Michigan
- Date Lost: October 1884
- Cause of Loss: Wrecked ashore
- Final Cargo: Wood
Vessel Type
J.E. Bailey was a two-masted wooden schooner, representative of the regional coastal and lumber transport vessels operating on the upper Great Lakes in the late 19th century.
Description
- Construction: Wood hull, single deck
- Builder: Bailey Brothers, Toledo, OH
- Tonnage (Gross): 196 tons
- Number of Masts: 2
History
Built in 1874 by Bailey Brothers in Toledo, J.E. Bailey entered service during the peak of the Great Lakes lumber and bulk trade era. Early records list ownership under H. Lutts of Toledo by 1876, and the schooner was referred to as “kneed off” in records—likely indicating hull repairs or reinforcement via transverse “knees” (brackets).
- 1876–1879: Remained under the ownership of H. Lutts, operating out of Toledo.
- 1880: Described as a “low barge”—suggesting conversion or degraded sail capacity, possibly functioning primarily in tow.
- October 1884: Ran ashore near Gill’s Pier, Michigan, while carrying wood. Declared a total loss.
Final Disposition
Wrecked ashore at Gill’s Pier on Lake Michigan in 1884. She was carrying wood at the time and was deemed unsalvageable.
Located By & Date Found
No known modern wreck location or discovery has been recorded publicly.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels – BGSU Database
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes – Newspaper & Registry Entries
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
- Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory
- Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
Conclusion
The J.E. Bailey served during a critical period of Great Lakes commerce, particularly in the lumber trade. Her wreck off Gill’s Pier reflects the vulnerability of such schooners to grounding and storm-related losses along the lee shores of Lake Michigan.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Schooner, wood-hulled
- Lake Michigan wreck
- Lumber trade
- 19th-century Great Lakes shipping
- Gill’s Pier, Michigan
- Coastal freight vessel
- Wrecked ashore