Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Lewis Day US 15410

Explore the remains of the Lewis Day, a three-masted schooner lost in a storm in 1881, located in the surf zone of Plum Island.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Lewis Day
  • Type: Three-masted wooden schooner
  • Year Built: 1868
  • Builder: David Clow
  • Dimensions: Approximately 150 ft (46 m); Beam: 31 ft (9.4 m); Depth of hold: 11 ft (3.4 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 381.9 gt
  • Location: Plum Island, Green Bay, Lake Michigan
  • Official Number: 15410
  • Number of Masts: Three

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

A large, wooden three-masted schooner built for heavy cargo transport. Known for impressive deckloads—e.g., in June 1869, she carried shingles piled eight feet above the rails (wisconsinshipwrecks.org).

Description

The Lewis Day was a robust cargo schooner typical of late-19th-century Great Lakes maritime commerce. Her loss during the fierce 1881 storm at Plum Island ended her storied career of heavy hauls and repairs. Today, her remnants lie pounded into the greenhead sands of the surf zone—a fragmentary witness to her rugged past and a testament to the region’s maritime history.

History

  • 1868 (Aug): Launched and enrolled in Chicago, IL (wisconsinshipwrecks.org).
  • 1869: Set record for largest shingle deckload.
  • 1871: Underwent refastening maintenance.
  • 1871 (Nov): Ran ashore at Beaver Island, Lake Michigan.
  • 1874 (Sep): Collided with schooner H. Blood in Lake Michigan.
  • 1881 (Oct 1): Driven ashore on the east side of Plum Island, Green Bay, during a violent storm while carrying cedar posts (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, newser.com).

Significant Incidents

  • Ran ashore at Beaver Island, Lake Michigan in November 1871.
  • Collided with the schooner H. Blood in September 1874.
  • Driven ashore during a storm on October 1, 1881, while carrying cedar posts.

Final Disposition

Current Condition & Accessibility

The Lewis Day wreck is located in the surf zone off Plum Island and is known locally as the “Plum Island lagoon wreck.” It has been documented in surveys such as the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeological Investigation (wisconsinshipwrecks.org). No precise coordinates are provided, but the remains are accessible at low water.

  • Accessibility: Shallower surf zone—potentially visible at very low water, but conditions make diving impractical.
  • Visibility: Highly variable; submerged debris may be visible in calm conditions.
  • Conditions: Rough surf, submerged timber hazards.
  • Diving Level: Not recommended—best observed from shore during low water.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”lewis-day-us-15410″ title=”References & Links”]

No formal navigational warnings. The wreck debris lies in shallow, turbulent surf—hazard to small craft, but unmarked on official charts.

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: Lewis Day
  • Official Number: 15410
  • Built: 1868 on Chambers Island, Wisconsin by David Clow
  • Type: Three-masted wooden schooner
  • Hull Materials: Wood; single deck
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: Approximately 150 ft (46 m)
    • Beam: 31 ft (9.4 m)
    • Depth: 11 ft (3.4 m)
    • Gross Tonnage: 381.9 gt (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)

Vessel Type

A large, wooden three-masted schooner built for heavy cargo transport. Known for impressive deckloads—e.g., in June 1869, she carried shingles piled eight feet above the rails (wisconsinshipwrecks.org).

History

  • 1868 (Aug): Launched and enrolled in Chicago, IL (wisconsinshipwrecks.org).
  • 1869: Set record for largest shingle deckload.
  • 1871: Underwent refastening maintenance.
  • 1871 (Nov): Ran ashore at Beaver Island, Lake Michigan.
  • 1874 (Sep): Collided with schooner H. Blood in Lake Michigan.
  • 1881 (Oct 1): Driven ashore on the east side of Plum Island, Green Bay, during a violent storm while carrying cedar posts (wisconsinshipwrecks.org, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, newser.com).

Final Disposition

Located By & Date Found

The Lewis Day wreck is located in the surf zone off Plum Island and is known locally as the “Plum Island lagoon wreck.” It has been documented in surveys such as the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeological Investigation (wisconsinshipwrecks.org). No precise coordinates are provided, but the remains are accessible at low water.

Dive & Surf Zone Information

  • Accessibility: Shallower surf zone—potentially visible at very low water, but conditions make diving impractical.
  • Visibility: Highly variable; submerged debris may be visible in calm conditions.
  • Conditions: Rough surf, submerged timber hazards.
  • Diving Level: Not recommended—best observed from shore during low water.

Notmars & Advisories

No formal navigational warnings. The wreck debris lies in shallow, turbulent surf—hazard to small craft, but unmarked on official charts.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Lewis Day was a robust cargo schooner typical of late-19th-century Great Lakes maritime commerce. Her loss during the fierce 1881 storm at Plum Island ended her storied career of heavy hauls and repairs. Today, her remnants lie pounded into the greenhead sands of the surf zone—a fragmentary witness to her rugged past and a testament to the region’s maritime history.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

Three-masted schooner • Chambers Island build • Cedar posts cargo • Plum Island surf wreck • 1881 storm • Door County maritime history • shipwreck visible ashore • Great Lakes naval archaeology.

lewis-day-us-15410 1881-10-01 11:30:00