Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John Schuette
- Type: Wooden Three-Masted Schooner
- Year Built: 1875
- Builder: Hanson & Scove
- Dimensions: 137.2 × 26.4 × 10.8 ft; 289 GT / 275 NT
- Registered Tonnage: 289 GT / 275 NT
- Location: Mid-Detroit River, near Ecorse, Michigan
- Official Number: 75762
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden Three-Masted Schooner (U.S. Official No. 75762)
Description
The John Schuette was a wooden three-masted schooner built in 1875. It was reputedly the first Great Lakes vessel equipped with bilge keels, which were designed to enhance stability in turbulent waters.
History
Built in Two Rivers, Wisconsin by Hanson & Scove, the John Schuette was a significant vessel in the Great Lakes shipping industry. It was primarily used for transporting cargo, including coal.
Significant Incidents
- Final Incident – 2 July 1909: The John Schuette collided with the steambarge Alfred Mitchell while sailing from Cleveland to Lake Superior and sank in the Detroit River. The crew escaped without fatalities.
- Recovery: The wreckage was dragged ashore and subsequently destroyed by dynamite on 14 August 1909.
Final Disposition
The wreck of the John Schuette was destroyed to clear navigation channels in the Detroit River, marking the end of its service.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As the wreck was dynamited, no substantial remains are expected to be present. However, remnants may persist along the shoreline near Ecorse, warranting further investigation.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”john-schuette-us-75762″ title=”References & Links”]
The three-masted schooner John Schuette sank after colliding with the steambarge Alfred Mitchell in the Detroit River on 2 July 1909. The crew survived, but the vessel was later destroyed to clear navigation channels. As an early vessel fitted with bilge keels, she stands as a testament to maritime technological progress.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →