Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Margretta
- Type: Wooden freight schooner
- Year Built: 1892
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: ~50–100 gross tons
- Location: Off Grindstone City, Lake Huron
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden schooner operating on Lake Huron
Description
Vessel Identity & Registry
- Built: 1892
- First Registered: October 2, 1907 in Port Huron, Michigan
- Type: Wooden freight schooner (~50–100 gross tons)
- Cargo at Loss: None aboard when fire began
- Fatalities: 1 of 1 aboard lost (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
History
Final Voyage & Loss Summary
- Loss Date: October 28, 1907
- Location: Off Grindstone City, Lake Huron
- Incident Details: The Margretta caught fire and burned entirely. Her documents were formally surrendered at Port Huron on October 31, 1907.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files) - Crew & Casualty: Only one person aboard—who unfortunately perished, making it a single-fatality tragedy.
- Salvage Status: Total loss by fire; no cargo or hull saved.
Significant Incidents
Context & History
- The archival entry notes that Margretta was heavily damaged during the October 20–22, 1905 storm but remained in service until her final loss in 1907.
- The vessel was newly registered in Port Huron shortly before her destruction, indicating perhaps a change in ownership or port of operation.
(Wikipedia, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wikipedia, Thumbwind)
Final Disposition
Further Research Suggestions
To fill gaps around this tragic incident:
- Local newspapers (late October–early November 1907) in Port Huron or Grindstone City for fire reports, crew identity, and loss coverage.
- Insurance or underwriters’ ledgers filed under the entry date Oct 31, 1907—likely contain owner, valuation, and loss statements.
- Vessel registration archives in Port Huron to trace details such as owner name, build origin, and prior ownership.
- Maritime museum archives (e.g., in Port Huron or Harbor Beach) that may have photographs or correspondence relating to the vessel’s brief registration and final voyage.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Conclusion
Margretta, launched in 1892, succumbed to fire on October 28, 1907, off Grindstone City, Lake Huron. Her registry documents had been issued just weeks earlier in Port Huron, but she burned completely—with one crew member aboard, who was lost in the blaze. No salvage occurred, and her papers were surrendered at Port Huron on October 31, 1907. This case highlights the vulnerability of minor schooners to fire even when operating without cargo and the risk borne by lone crew.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”margretta-1892″ title=”References & Links”]
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.
(built 1892; lost October 28, 1907)
Wooden schooner operating on Lake Huron
Vessel Identity & Registry
- Built: 1892
- First Registered: October 2, 1907 in Port Huron, Michigan
- Type: Wooden freight schooner (~50–100 gross tons)
- Cargo at Loss: None aboard when fire began
- Fatalities: 1 of 1 aboard lost
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Voyage & Loss Summary
- Loss Date: October 28, 1907
- Location: Off Grindstone City, Lake Huron
- Incident Details: The Margretta caught fire and burned entirely. Her documents were formally surrendered at Port Huron on October 31, 1907.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files) - Crew & Casualty: Only one person aboard—who unfortunately perished, making it a single-fatality tragedy.
- Salvage Status: Total loss by fire; no cargo or hull saved.
Summary Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Margretta |
| Build Year | 1892 |
| Registry Location | Port Huron, MI (Oct 2, 1907) |
| Loss Date | October 28, 1907 |
| Loss Area | Off Grindstone City, MI (Lake Huron) |
| Cause of Loss | Fire (no cargo aboard) |
| Crew | 1 aboard; fatality occurred |
| Cargo | None at time of fire |
| Final Disposition | Burned to total ruin; registration surrendered Oct 31, 1907 |
| Salvage | None recorded |
Context & History
- The archival entry notes that Margretta was heavily damaged during the October 20–22, 1905 storm but remained in service until her final loss in 1907.
- The vessel was newly registered in Port Huron shortly before her destruction, indicating perhaps a change in ownership or port of operation.
(Wikipedia, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wikipedia, Thumbwind)
Further Research Suggestions
To fill gaps around this tragic incident:
- Local newspapers (late October–early November 1907) in Port Huron or Grindstone City for fire reports, crew identity, and loss coverage.
- Insurance or underwriters’ ledgers filed under the entry date Oct 31, 1907—likely contain owner, valuation, and loss statements.
- Vessel registration archives in Port Huron to trace details such as owner name, build origin, and prior ownership.
- Maritime museum archives (e.g., in Port Huron or Harbor Beach) that may have photographs or correspondence relating to the vessel’s brief registration and final voyage.
Conclusion
Margretta, launched in 1892, succumbed to fire on October 28, 1907, off Grindstone City, Lake Huron. Her registry documents had been issued just weeks earlier in Port Huron, but she burned completely—with one crew member aboard, who was lost in the blaze. No salvage occurred, and her papers were surrendered at Port Huron on October 31, 1907. This case highlights the vulnerability of minor schooners to fire even when operating without cargo and the risk borne by lone crew.
margretta-1892 1907-10-02 10:39:00