Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lettie May
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1874
- Builder: Simeon Vaughan
- Dimensions: 69 ft × 16 ft × 6 ft (21 m × 4.9 m × 1.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 45 GRT, 42 NRT
- Location: East of the Beaver Islands, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 140063
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Two-masted wooden schooner, used for freight and utility trade.
Description
Originally 47 ft and 27 GRT, Lettie May underwent rebuilding and enlargement in 1891, expanding to 69 ft and 45 GRT. Built robustly for Great Lakes duties, she served under Michigan registry and was active in regional shipping, likely hauling lumber, coal, and general merchandise.
History
By 1905, Lettie May was operating out of Grand Haven, Michigan. On October 4, she encountered a storm and stranded on a shoal east of the Beaver Islands. The damage rendered her a total loss—though her crew of two survived. Prior to sinking, she was involved in construction activity during Michigan Central Railway tunnel building, temporarily repurposed as a barge and ultimately damaged by ice in winter operations—suggesting an extended service life even after her wreck.
Significant Incidents
- Stranded on a shoal east of the Beaver Islands during a storm on October 4, 1905.
- Declared a total loss upon stranding and abandonment.
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss upon stranding and abandonment east of the Beaver Islands. No salvage operations noted.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No documented archaeological dive or survey records. The wreck location remains unverified and is presumed undocumented.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lettie-may-us-140063″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The Lettie May serves as a classic example of small schooners overwhelmed by autumn storms on Lake Michigan. Converted mid-life for construction duty, she ultimately succumbed to nature as she departed Beaver Islands on October 4, 1905. Though minor in scale, her loss underscores the hazards faced by utility craft in seasonal transitions—and the loss of small vessels often goes undocumented in records or nautical charts.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →