Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: James Platt
- Type: Wooden schooner (two-masted, single-deck)
- Year Built: 1863
- Builder: George Goble
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: Approximately 341 gross tons (as of 1868)
- Location: Lake Michigan — stranding near White Shoals off Beaver Island and later wrecking on South Fox Island
- Coordinates: string
- Official Number: string
- Original Owners: M. Goble & D. G. Ford
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The James Platt is classified as a wooden schooner, specifically a two-masted, single-deck vessel designed for freight and sail cargo.
Description
Built in 1863 by George Goble in Oswego, New York, the James Platt was a wooden schooner with a registered tonnage of approximately 341 gross tons as of 1868. The vessel was primarily used for trade and transportation across the Great Lakes.
History
The James Platt was enrolled in Oswego, NY, under its original owners, M. Goble and D. G. Ford. Throughout its operational history from 1863 to 1881, the vessel underwent multiple repairs and ownership changes, particularly between Green Bay and Chicago. Notably, it grounded at North Manitou Island in December 1874.
Significant Incidents
- 1863: Enrolled in Oswego, NY, under original owners M. Goble & D. G. Ford.
- 1865–1877: Multiple repairs; grounded at North Manitou Island in December 1874; ownership transferred over the years.
- 1881, November 18: Departed Bay City, MI; struck by a severe blizzard while crossing Lake Michigan and grounded on White Shoals, Beaver Island.
- 1881, November: Subsequent surveys indicate she broke up and was abandoned near South Fox Island; confirmed as a total loss.
Final Disposition
The James Platt was wrecked and stranded during a storm in November 1881. After grounding on White Shoals, it ultimately broke up and was abandoned near South Fox Island, leading to its removal from shipping registers.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site of the James Platt is believed to be near South Fox Island. Due to the structural breakup and remote location, significant wreck remains are unlikely. The site has not been surveyed or documented archaeologically.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”james-platt-1863″ title=”References & Links”]
The James Platt serves as a historical reminder of the challenges faced by mid-19th-century lumber and trade schooners, particularly during severe weather conditions on the Great Lakes.
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
- Vessel Name: James Platt
- Year Built: 1863
- Built At: Oswego, New York by George Goble
- Type: Wooden schooner (two-masted, single-deck)
- Tonnage: Approximately 341 gross tons (as of 1868)
- Final Disposition: Wrecked/stranded in storm
- Date of Loss: November 1881 (specific accounts cite November 18 and December 7 depending on source)
- Location: Lake Michigan — stranding near White Shoals off Beaver Island and later wrecking on South Fox Island
- Casualties: None reported
Timeline of Catastrophic Events
- 1863 – Enrolled in Oswego, NY, under original owners M. Goble & D. G. Ford.
- 1865–1877 – Multiple repairs (1874, 1875, 1877); grounded at North Manitou Island in Dec 1874; ownership transferred over years to operators in Green Bay and Chicago.
- 1881, November 18 – Departed Bay City, MI; struck by severe blizzard while crossing Lake Michigan and grounded on White Shoals, Beaver Island (“stranded in snowstorm”) (flybridge.proboards.com, Wikipedia, shipbuildinghistory.com, Wikipedia)
- 1881, November – Subsequent surveys indicate she broke up and was abandoned near South Fox Island; confirmed as total loss and removed from shipping registers
Wreck Site & Condition
- The vessel ultimately wound up wrecked on or near South Fox Island.
- Considering the structural breakup and remote location, significant wreck remains are unlikely; the site has not been surveyed or documented archaeologically.
Historical Context & Significance
- James Platt reflects the lifecycle of mid-19th-century lumber/trade schooners — enduring frequent repairs before succumbing to Lake Michigan’s powerful storms.
- Her final stranding during the infamous November 1881 blizzard illustrates the recurring danger these vessels faced, especially during seasonal squalls.
Key Details
- Region: Lake Michigan (Beaver Island & South Fox Island)
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner, freight/sail cargo
- Cause of Loss: Grounding in severe storm and seawater breakup
- Casualties: None reported
- Operational Span: 1863–1881
- Wreck Status: Broken up post-1881; no extant remains; site unverified
Potential Research Avenues
- Checking November 1881 issues of the Chicago Tribune, Bay City Times, or Petoskey News could yield eyewitness or salvage accounts.
- Exploring Great Lakes Marine Patrol records for storm response logs or wreck reports from that blizzard incident.