Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lena M. Nielson
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1896
- Builder: Ludington, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length: 78.6 ft (23.96 m); Beam: 24.9 ft (7.59 m); Depth of hold: 6.6 ft (2.01 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 85 gt, 74 nt
- Location: Near Lakeside, north of New Buffalo, MI
- Official Number: 141426
- Original Owners: Evan Nielson of Ludington, MI
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A typical small wood schooner of the period, built for hauling bulk cargo (primarily lumber) on the Great Lakes. Likely rigged with gaff sails and suited for moderate coastal trade routes.
Description
Wooden hull, single deck, fore-and-aft rig for functioning in varied wind conditions of Lake Michigan. Built to handle typical lumber cargoes; frame likely oak or pine, deck reinforced for heavy loads.
History
- 1896: Entered service in the lumber trade, operating from Ludington.
- 1898, 10 Nov: While en route from Manistee to Benton Harbor with a lumber cargo, the Lena M. Nielson was caught in a severe storm. Attempting to navigate around the wreck of the City of Duluth near the mouth of St. Joseph harbour, she foundered. Driven back onto Lake Michigan, the schooner drifted approximately 25 miles before being thrown ashore near Lakeside, north of New Buffalo, Michigan. The crew was rescued by the St. Joseph Life-Saving Service, with no fatalities.
Significant Incidents
- 10 November 1898: Foundered during a storm while navigating near the wreck of the City of Duluth.
Final Disposition
- Date: 10 November 1898
- Location: Near Lakeside, north of New Buffalo, MI, Lake Michigan
- Fate: Driven ashore and wrecked during a storm; vessel declared a total loss.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No underwater wreck has been recorded—the vessel was stranded on shore and likely broken up at the site. No dive site or submerged remains are known.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lena-m-nielson-us-141426″ title=”References & Links”]
Though small and short-lived (just two years in operation), the Lena M. Nielson played a role in Michigan’s late-19th-century lumber trade. Her loss during a November storm underscores the hazards faced by coastal schooners when navigating around wreck-prone harbour entries. With her crew rescued and no diveable wreckage remaining, she remains a historical footnote—known primarily through Life-Saving Service actions and registry records.
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: Lena M. Nielson
- Official Number: 141426
- Built: 1896 at Ludington, Michigan
- Vessel Type: Two‑masted wooden schooner
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: 1
- Original Owner: Evan Nielson of Ludington, MI
- Dimensions:
- Length: 78.6 ft (23.96 m)
- Beam: 24.9 ft (7.59 m)
- Depth: 6.6 ft (2.01 m)
- Tonnage: 85 gt, 74 nt
Vessel Type
A typical small wood schooner of the period, built for hauling bulk cargo (primarily lumber) on the Great Lakes. Likely rigged with gaff sails and suited for moderate coastal trade routes.
Description
Wooden hull, single deck, fore-and-aft rig for functioning in varied wind conditions of Lake Michigan. Built to handle typical lumber cargoes; frame likely oak or pine, deck reinforced for heavy loads.
History
- 1896: Entered service in the lumber trade, operating from Ludington.
- 1898, 10 Nov: While en route from Manistee to Benton Harbor with a lumber cargo, the Lena M. Nielson was caught in a severe storm. Attempting to navigate around the wreck of the City of Duluth near the mouth of St. Joseph harbour, she foundered. Driven back onto Lake Michigan, the schooner drifted approximately 25 miles before being thrown ashore near Lakeside, north of New Buffalo, Michigan. The crew was rescued by the St. Joseph Life‑Saving Service, with no fatalities (en.wikipedia.org, northernmichiganhistory.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com).
Final Disposition
- Date: 10 November 1898
- Location: Near Lakeside, north of New Buffalo, MI, Lake Michigan
- Fate: Driven ashore and wrecked during a storm; vessel declared a total loss.
Located By & Date Found
No underwater wreck has been recorded—the vessel was stranded on shore and likely broken up at the site. No dive site or submerged remains are known.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted; the wreck site doesn’t appear in navigational hazard listings or modern marine advisories.
Resources & Links
- N – Great Lakes Shipwreck File: LENA M. NIELSON (en.wikipedia.org)
- History of the Great Lakes – Coastal shipping chronology
Conclusion
Though small and short‑lived (just two years in operation), the Lena M. Nielson played a role in Michigan’s late‑19th‑century lumber trade. Her loss during a November storm underscores the hazards faced by coastal schooners when navigating around wreck-prone harbour entries. With her crew rescued and no diveable wreckage remaining, she remains a historical footnote—known primarily through Life‑Saving Service actions and registry records.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
Wooden Schooner • Lumber Trade • Ludington Built • Storm Wreck 1898 • St. Joseph Life‑Saving Service • Shorewreck • Lake Michigan • Coastal Schooner
lena-m-nielson-us-141426 1898-11-10 21:57:00