Margret Dall US 17746 – Lake Michigan Schooner Shipwreck (1906)

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

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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.