Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John F. Warner
- Type: Wooden three-masted schooner (converted to barge)
- Year Built: 1855
- Builder: Quayle & Martin, Cleveland, Ohio
- Dimensions: Length ~126 ft (38.4 m); Beam 26 ft (7.9 m); Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: ~200 GRT
- Depth at Wreck Site: 2.7 m / 9 ft
- Location: Near the mouth of the Thunder Bay River, Alpena, Lake Huron
- Coordinates: Approximately N 45° 03.050′, W 83° 26.128′
- Official Number: Not listed
- Original Owners: Not specified
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
- Three-masted wooden sailing schooner, later used as a sail-barge.
- Designed for bulk freight like lumber and lath.
Description
- Length: ~126 ft (38.4 m)
- Beam: 26 ft (7.9 m)
- Gross Tonnage: ~200 GRT
- Cargo at Final Voyage: Lumber & lath
History
- Built in 1855 and spent early years trading between the Great Lakes and European ports.
- After 1860, focused on regional lumber hauling on Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.
- No specific master or ownership data cited in available sources.
Significant Incidents
- Anchored off Alpena’s harbor entrance when a severe northeasterly storm struck.
- Anchor chains parted; the vessel was driven onto the river mouth bar.
- The Alpena Weekly Argus reported: “the heaviest sea ever known here…broke her in two,” and crew evacuated safely.
- To prevent navigation hazard, tugs towed the broken hulk south and abandoned her.
Final Disposition
- Today, the remains lie in ~9 ft (2.7 m) of shallow water, marked for recreational divers.
- Vessel is broken in two, with frames and hull timbers visible and coated in invasive mussels.
- Scientifically documented by NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary; mooring buoy installed for preservation and diver access.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- No official navigational hazards were issued at the time; local action was taken to move the wreck to clear the harbor channel.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”john-f-warner-1855″ title=”References & Links”]
The John F. Warner is a well-attested wreck of a mid-19th-century wooden schooner-barge, lost in October 1890 during a sudden storm off Alpena. The crew survived; the vessel was intentionally towed away to clear the river mouth. Its remains are documented, buoyed, and accessible, making it a principal heritage dive site within the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
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: John F. Warner
- Official Number: Not listed
- Construction: Wooden three-masted schooner (converted to barge)
- Built: 1855 by Quayle & Martin, Cleveland, Ohio
- Wrecked: October 13, 1890
- Location of Loss: Near the mouth of the Thunder Bay River, Alpena, Lake Huron
- Wreck Site Depth: Approximately 9 ft of water, buoy-marked (thunderbay.noaa.gov, NPGallery)
Vessel Type
- Three‑masted wooden sailing schooner, later used as a sail‑barge.
- Designed for bulk freight like lumber and lath.
Description
- Length: ~126 ft (38.4 m)
- Beam: 26 ft (7.9 m)
- Gross Tonnage: ~200 GRT
- Cargo at Final Voyage: Lumber & lath (thunderbay.noaa.gov, NPGallery)
Historical Background
- Built in 1855 and spent early years trading between the Great Lakes and European ports.
- After 1860, focused on regional lumber hauling on Lake Huron and Lake Michigan (Visit Alpena).
- No specific master or ownership data cited in available sources.
Final Voyage & Loss (October 13, 1890)
- Anchored off Alpena’s harbor entrance when a severe northeasterly storm struck.
- Anchor chains parted; the vessel was driven onto the river mouth bar.
- The Alpena Weekly Argus reported: “the heaviest sea ever known here…broke her in two,” and crew evacuated safely (NPGallery, thunderbay.noaa.gov).
- To prevent navigation hazard, tugs towed the broken hulk south and abandoned her.
Wreck Location & Condition
- Today, the remains lie in ~9 ft (2.7 m) of shallow water, marked for recreational divers (thunderbay.noaa.gov).
- Vessel is broken in two, with frames and hull timbers visible and coated in invasive mussels (thunderbay.noaa.gov).
- Scientifically documented by NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary; mooring buoy installed for preservation and diver access (thunderbay.noaa.gov).
Notmas & Hazard Advisories
- No official navigational hazards were issued at the time; local action was taken to move the wreck to clear the harbor channel.
Resources & Documentation
- NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary entry with mooring details and site plan (thunderbay.noaa.gov, nmsthunderbayeus2-uat.azurewebsites.net).
- General mention in curated Great Lakes shipwreck histories (Agri Natural Resources College).
- Regional dive and tourism literature confirms visibility and site details (Visit Alpena, nmsthunderbay.blob.core.windows.net).
Gaps & Recommended Research
| Category | Next Steps |
|---|---|
| Ownership/Master | Investigate vessel enrollment records (USACE archives, Bowing Green BGSU). |
| Crew list | Check Alpena Weekly Argus and Detroit Free Press Oct 1890. |
| Insurance/legal files | Query Michigan court archives & marine insurers for claims. |
| Archaeological mapping | Consult NOAA-derived site surveys and archival photos. |
Dive & Archaeological Potential
- Very accessible site: <10 ft deep, near shore, buoyed in Thunder Bay.
- Coordinates: ~N 45° 03.050′, W 83° 26.128′ (thunderbay.noaa.gov).
- Ideal for shallow-water archaeology and public outreach under preservation protocols.
Conclusion
The John F. Warner is a well-attested wreck of a mid‑19th-century wooden schooner-barge, lost in October 1890 during a sudden storm off Alpena. The crew survived; the vessel was intentionally towed away to clear the river mouth. Its remains are documented, buoyed, and accessible, making it a principal heritage dive site within the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
john-f-warner-1855 1890-10-13 23:31:00