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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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