Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Margret Dall
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1867
- Builder: John Gregory, Michigan City, Indiana
- Dimensions: Length: 112 ft (34.1 m); Beam: 25 ft; Depth of hold: 8 ft
- Registered Tonnage: Gross 176.32 tons; Net 167.51 tons
- Location: South Manitou Island, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 17746
- Original Owners: M. & W. Dall, Chicago; David Dall, Chicago
- Number of Masts: Originally 2 masts, rigged to 3 masts in 1892
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A mid–19th-century wooden coastal schooner, initially rigged with two masts carrying fore-and-aft sails, later converted to a three-masted configuration to enhance sailing efficiency.
Description
Built for Great Lakes trade, the Margret Dall featured a single-deck hull with a moderate hold depth suitable for transporting dry cargo like grain or lumber. The 1892 rig conversion increased sail capacity and adaptability.
History
- 1869 (Nov): Rigging damaged in Lake Huron during gale conditions
- 1871: Owned by M. & W. Dall, Chicago; struck a wreck near Malden in the Detroit River
- 1874 (Jun): Rigging damaged in a Lake Michigan gale
- 1879 (Nov): Stranded and refloated at Grand Haven, MI
- 1883 (May 21): Became dismasted on Lake Michigan
- 1884: Reverted to sole ownership under David Dall, Chicago
- 1892: Rigged to three-mast schooner configuration
- 1893 (Mar): Remeasured: 115 ft × 25.5 ft × 8 ft; 149 gross / 138 net tons
- 1898 (Nov 10): Went ashore near Glencoe, IL, on Lake Michigan
- 1906 (Nov 16): Final wreck ashore on South Manitou Island, during loading/unloading of potatoes; registry closed Dec 19, 1906
Significant Incidents
- 1869: Rigging damaged in Lake Huron during gale conditions
- 1871: Struck a wreck near Malden in the Detroit River
- 1874: Rigging damaged in a Lake Michigan gale
- 1879: Stranded and refloated at Grand Haven, MI
- 1883: Became dismasted on Lake Michigan
- 1898: Went ashore near Glencoe, IL, on Lake Michigan
- 1906: Final wreck ashore on South Manitou Island
Final Disposition
Driven ashore by storm force winds, the Margret Dall sustained extensive structural damage. No loss of life reported. Declared a total wreck and formally removed from registry.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck lies along the island’s shore, visible and accessible at low water. Structural elements and rigging remnants may still be detectable. Site permits opportunities for shallow photographic and structural survey dives.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”margret-dall-us-17746″ title=”References & Links”]
The Margret Dall exemplifies the life cycle of mid–19th-century Great Lakes schooners—multiple losses, repeated repairs, and adaptive rigging changes. Her survival into the 20th century attests to the persistence of sail-powered trade vessels even as steampower gained dominance.
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: Margret Dall (also spelled Margaret Dall)
- Official Number: 17746
- Year Built: 1867
- Builder: John Gregory, Michigan City, Indiana (chicagology.com)
- Type: Wooden schooner (2‑mast originally; rigged to 3 masts in 1892) (chicagology.com)
- Dimensions:
- Length: 112 ft (≈34.1 m)
- Beam: 25 ft (≈7.6 m)
- Depth: 8 ft (≈2.4 m)
- Tonnage: Gross 176.32 tons; Net 167.51 tons
- Decks: 1
- Final Loss: Ashore and wrecked on South Manitou Island, Lake Michigan
- Date Lost: 16 November 1906; registry surrendered 19 December 1906
Vessel Type
A mid‑19th‑century wooden coastal schooner, initially rigged with two masts carrying fore-and‑aft sails, later converted to a three‑masted configuration to enhance sailing efficiency.
Description
Built for Great Lakes trade, the Margret Dall featured a single-deck hull with a moderate hold depth suitable for transporting dry cargo like grain or lumber. The 1892 rig conversion increased sail capacity and adaptability.
History & Highlights
- 1869 (Nov): Rigging damaged in Lake Huron during gale conditions
- 1871: Owned by M. & W. Dall, Chicago; struck a wreck near Malden in the Detroit River
- 1874 (Jun): Rigging damaged in a Lake Michigan gale
- 1879 (Nov): Stranded and refloated at Grand Haven, MI
- 1883 (May 21): Became dismasted on Lake Michigan (chicagology.com, Wisconsin Shipwrecks)
- 1884: Reverted to sole ownership under David Dall, Chicago
- 1892: Rigged to three‑mast schooner configuration (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- 1893 (Mar): Remeasured: 115 ft × 25.5 ft × 8 ft; 149 gross / 138 net tons
- 1898 (Nov 10): Went ashore near Glencoe, IL, on Lake Michigan
- 1906 (Nov 16): Final wreck ashore on South Manitou Island, during loading/unloading of potatoes; registry closed Dec 19, 1906
Final Disposition
Driven ashore by storm force winds, the Margret Dall sustained extensive structural damage. No loss of life reported. Declared a total wreck and formally removed from registry.
Located By & Date Found
Although no specific rediscovery event is documented, wreck remains are photographed and archived, including images held in the Wisconsin Maritime Museum collections (wisconsinmaritime.pastperfectonline.com, wisconsinmaritime.pastperfectonline.com).
Notmars & Advisories
No modern navigational warnings specifically mark the wreck; shallows near South Manitou Island remain navigable with caution advised.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck lies along the island’s shore, visible and accessible at low water. Structural elements and rigging remnants may still be detectable. Site permits opportunities for shallow photographic and structural survey dives.
Significance
The Margret Dall exemplifies the life cycle of mid‑19th century Great Lakes schooners—multiple losses, repeated repairs, and adaptive rigging changes. Her survival into the 20th century attests to the persistence of sail-powered trade vessels even as steampower gained dominance.
Shore Dive Information
- Access Location: South Manitou Island shoreline
- Entry Type: Shore wade exploration
- Depth: Very shallow (0–5 ft/0–1.5 m)
- Conditions: Calm, sandy bottom; occasional swells
- Skill Level: Beginner; careful due to sharp wreckage
- Safety: U.S. 911 emergency; Coast Guard Channel 16
- Best Time to Visit: Late spring through early fall
- Regulations: Protected under Michigan’s underwater cultural resource laws
Resources & Links
- Chicagology shipbuilding records (chicagology.com)
- Wisconsin Maritime Museum archives & imagery
- Great Lakes vessel registers and marine directories (Donald V. Baut, Board of Lake Underwriters, EDJ Dowling Collection)
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
Tags: Margret Dall, South Manitou Island wreck, three-masted schooner, Great Lakes schooner, 19th-century maritime trade
Categories: Maritime Archaeology, Great Lakes Wrecks, Historical Vessels
Glossary: Dismasting, Remeasurement, Registry closure, Rig conversion, Coastal grounding