Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

John L. Shaw

Explore the well-preserved wreck of the John L. Shaw, a wooden three-masted schooner that sank in 1894 during a snowstorm in Lake Huron.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: John L. Shaw
  • Type: Wooden three-masted schooner
  • Year Built: 1885
  • Builder: H. M. Shaw, Bay City, Michigan
  • Dimensions: 205 ft (62.48 m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: 1,750 tons
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 39 m / 128 ft
  • Location: Approximately 7 miles offshore from Harrisville, Michigan
  • Official Number: 1885
  • Number of Masts: Three

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The John L. Shaw was a wooden three-masted schooner, notable for its size at 205 feet, which was significantly large for a schooner of its era.

Description

Built in 1885 by H. M. Shaw in Bay City, Michigan, the John L. Shaw was primarily used for transporting cargo, including coal. On its final voyage, it was carrying approximately 1,750 tons of coal when it sank.

History

The John L. Shaw was towed by the steamer John F. Eddy when it encountered a sudden blinding snowstorm on November 13, 1894. The tow line parted, leaving the schooner adrift. The crew of eight abandoned ship and was rescued by a passing steamer, with no fatalities reported. The vessel sank shortly thereafter.

Significant Incidents

  • Final voyage on November 13, 1894, during a blinding snowstorm.
  • Tow line parted, leading to the vessel being adrift and taking on water.
  • Crew abandoned ship and was rescued; no fatalities occurred.

Final Disposition

The wreck of the John L. Shaw was discovered in July 2007 by a local fisherman and later confirmed by NOAA’s Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The hull is upright on the lakebed, with the starboard side collapsed but retaining remnants of mast stumps and structural timbers.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is located in approximately 128 feet of water and is remarkably well-preserved due to the cold freshwater environment. The site offers opportunities for remote imaging and photogrammetry, as well as dive-based research.

Resources & Links

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The John L. Shaw serves as an important archaeological site, providing insights into late 19th-century shipbuilding and maritime technology, as well as the transition from sail to steam power 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.

Identification & Vessel Details

  • Name: John L. Shaw (John Shaw in many records)
  • Built: 1885 by H. M. Shaw, Bay City, Michigan
  • Type: Wooden three-masted schooner
  • Length: 205 ft (significantly large for a schooner of the era)
  • Cargo on Final Voyage: About 1,750 tons of coal
  • Towboat for Final Voyage: John F. Eddy (steamer)
  • Official Number & Registry: Confirmed in official Great Lakes registries (no. 1885 build sailing records)

Final Voyage & Loss – November 13, 1894, Lake Huron

  • While being towed by John F. Eddy toward Chicago across Lake Huron, the schooner dropped into a trough in a sudden blinding snowstorm off Harrisville. The tow line parted, leaving her adrift and open to waves that caused her to spring a leak.
  • The crew of eight abandoned ship in a yawl and drifted for hours before being rescued by a passing steamer—no fatalities. The John Shaw sank shortly thereafter. (Detroit Historical Society, thunderbay.noaa.gov)

Wreck Site & Archaeological Condition

  • Location: Approximately 7 miles offshore from Harrisville, Michigan, in approximately 128 ft of water (Detroit Historical Society)
  • Discovery: Found in July 2007 by a local fisherman; later confirmed by NOAA’s Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (Wikipedia)
  • Condition: The hull sits upright on the lakebed. Starboard side is collapsed, but remnants of mast stumps, intact framing, and structural timbers remain—remarkably well preserved beneath freshwater. (Wikipedia)

Sources & Documentation

  • NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary: Overview and condition assessment (thunderbay.noaa.gov)
  • Wikipedia entry on John Shaw, including sinking, discovery, and archaeological site survey (Wikipedia)

Archaeological & Historical Importance

  • Maritime heritage: One of the largest schooners on the Great Lakes, John L. Shaw represents the pinnacle of sail-powered bulk transport just before steam dominance.
  • Preservation: The cold freshwater and rapid sinking have allowed for exceptional preservation of wooden hull components—offering a rare insight into late 19th-century schooner construction and maritime technology.
  • Site potential: The wreck offers rich opportunities for remote imaging, photogrammetry, and dive-based research—such as studying hull joinery, cargo stowage, and the structural impacts of wave-induced leaks.

Research & Exploration Opportunities

  • Advanced survey: Use AUV, ROV, or high-resolution side-scan sonar to create detailed site maps of framing, masts, and hull collapse zones.
  • Cargo analysis: Catalog coal remnants and evaluate stowage density compared to other coal schooners.
  • Wood sampling: Potential for dendrochronological studies relating to timber sourcing and shipbuilding region.

Summary: The John L. Shaw stands out as a mid-19th-century cargo schooner that succumbed to winter storm conditions while under tow. Her well-preserved wreck makes her a prime subject for maritime archaeology, illuminating details of wooden shipbuilding, sail-freight logistics, and shipboard safety during the sail-to-steam transition era on the Great Lakes.

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