Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Madeline
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1837
- Builder: Lorain, Ohio
- Dimensions: Approximately 40 ft long; gross tonnage about 20 tons
- Registered Tonnage: 20 tons
- Location: Isle Royale region, near Minnesota Point or Sioux Port
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Number of Masts: Two masts
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Built in 1837 at Lorain, Ohio, Madeline was a small wooden schooner intended for light coastal and lake trade. At approximately 40 ft and 20 gross tons, she likely sailed with two masts and minimal hold capacity, suitable only for lighter freight—perhaps furs or trade goods common in early frontier shipping. Her modest size would have made her vulnerable in Lake Superior storms.
Description
The Madeline stranded and broke up when caught in a storm on Lake Superior. Historical records show confusion regarding her exact place and date of loss. The vessel stranded on a reef or beach and ultimately broke apart under storm forces. Contemporary and later records indicate she was a total loss; any salvage efforts were minimal due to the era’s limited resources in remote Lake Superior areas.
History
- Operational Period: 1837–~1839
- Trade Use: Likely involved in Great Lakes coastal transport or frontier trading—perhaps between Madeline Island (Wisconsin) and Lake Superior ports in Minnesota or Michigan.
- Final Voyage: In 1839, while navigating in the Isle Royale–Minnesota Point region, Madeline encountered severe weather. She was driven ashore and wrecked. Historical accounts remain unclear whether the site was Isle Royale, Minnesota Point, or “Madeline Island” due to naming confusion and sparse documentation.
Significant Incidents
- Loss of Life: Not documented.
- Location uncertainty: The wreck site is variously described as Isle Royale, Minnesota Point, or Madeline Island—reflecting early navigational and naming ambiguity.
- Condition: No diver records or archaeological assessments exist; structural remains, if any survive, would likely be fragmentary and covered by sediment.
Final Disposition
The vessel stranded on a reef or beach and ultimately broke apart under storm forces. Contemporary and later records indicate she was a total loss; any salvage efforts were minimal due to the era’s limited resources in remote Lake Superior areas.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No wreck has been documented or surveyed. Given her small wooden construction and age (~180 years), any remnants are likely buried or degraded. The location ambiguity further complicates identification.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”madeline-1837″ title=”References & Links”]
The schooner Madeline stands among the earliest recorded vessel wrecks on Lake Superior, illustrative of frontier-era small-craft risk in early Great Lakes navigation. Although scant in size and documentation, her loss highlights the peril faced by early traders and merchants in the region. The identity confusion regarding her wreck site speaks to the challenges of maritime record-keeping in the early 19th century.
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.
Wooden Schooner, Stranded and Wrecked on Lake Superior
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Wreck Name: Madeline
- Official No.: Not recorded
- Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1837, Lorain, Ohio
- Dimensions: Approximately 40 ft long; gross tonnage about 20 tons
- Date of Loss: 1839 (some accounts cite 1838)
- Location of Loss: Isle Royale region, near Minnesota Point (“Madeline Island”) or Sioux Port, Lake Superior—sources vary
- Type of Loss: Stranded during a storm, subsequently wrecked
- Cargo: Unspecified
- Loss of Life: Not documented
- Narrative Summary: The Madeline stranded and broke up when caught in a storm on Lake Superior. Historical records show confusion regarding her exact place and date of loss (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Vessel Type Description
Built in 1837 at Lorain, Ohio, Madeline was a small wooden schooner intended for light coastal and lake trade. At approximately 40 ft and 20 gross tons, she likely sailed with two masts and minimal hold capacity, suitable only for lighter freight—perhaps furs or trade goods common in early frontier shipping. Her modest size would have made her vulnerable in Lake Superior storms.
History & Operational Context
- Operational Period: 1837–~1839
- Trade Use: Likely involved in Great Lakes coastal transport or frontier trading—perhaps between Madeline Island (Wisconsin) and Lake Superior ports in Minnesota or Michigan
- Final Voyage: In 1839, while navigating in the Isle Royale–Minnesota Point region, Madeline encountered severe weather. She was driven ashore and wrecked. Historical accounts remain unclear whether the site was Isle Royale, Minnesota Point, or “Madeline Island” due to naming confusion and sparse documentation (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Final Disposition
The vessel stranded on a reef or beach and ultimately broke apart under storm forces. Contemporary and later records indicate she was a total loss; any salvage efforts were minimal due to the era’s limited resources in remote Lake Superior areas.
Located By & Site Documentation
No wreck has been documented or surveyed. Given her small wooden construction and age (~180 years), any remnants are likely buried or degraded. The location ambiguity further complicates identification.
Notes & Advisories
- Location uncertainty: The wreck site is variously described as Isle Royale, Minnesota Point, or Madeline Island—reflecting early navigational and naming ambiguity.
- Condition: No diver records or archaeological assessments exist; structural remains, if any survive, would likely be fragmentary and covered by sediment.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“M” section): Provides build year, tonnage, and loss details with notations about site location uncertainty and storm loss circumstances (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
- List of Shipwrecks of Western Lake Superior (Wikipedia): Confirms approximate build and loss years, boat type, general location on Park Point near Duluth, and foundering in ~1838–1839 (Wikipedia).
Summary Table
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name at Loss | Madeline |
| Built | 1837, Lorain, Ohio |
| Type | Wooden schooner (~40 ft, ~20 gt) |
| Lost | 1839 (some say 1838), Lake Superior storm |
| Cargo | Unknown |
| Fate | Stranded and wrecked |
| Crew Casualties | Not reported |
| Site Documentation | None—wreck unlocated or unidentified |
Conclusion
The schooner Madeline stands among the earliest recorded vessel wrecks on Lake Superior, illustrative of frontier-era small-craft risk in early Great Lakes navigation. Although scant in size and documentation, her loss highlights the peril faced by early traders and merchants in the region. The identity confusion regarding her wreck site speaks to the challenges of maritime record-keeping in the early 19th century.
Given the limited archival evidence and absence of a documented wreck site, further research into period newspapers (circa 1838–39 in Duluth, Isle Royale, and Madeline Island regions), frontier fur-trade logs, or early shipping registries could yield new insights or clarify the wreck’s location. Let me know if you’d like assistance uncovering possible archival leads or mapping likely wreck corridors.
madeline-1837 1838-07-25 01:00:00