Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Mary and Lucy (1855)

Explore the wreck of the Mary and Lucy, a wooden schooner lost in a storm on September 4, 1879, in Lake Huron.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Mary and Lucy
  • Type: Wooden schooner
  • Year Built: 1855
  • Builder: Roderick Calkins, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Dimensions: Approximately 94 × 23 × 7 ft; gross tonnage ~113 GRT
  • Registered Tonnage: ~113 GRT
  • Location: Near Chantry Island, Lake Huron

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Mary and Lucy was a wooden schooner, a common vessel type used for cargo transport on the Great Lakes during the 19th century.

Description

Built in 1855, the Mary and Lucy measured approximately 94 feet in length, 23 feet in beam, and had a depth of 7 feet. It was primarily used to transport pine lumber.

History

The Mary and Lucy was constructed by Roderick Calkins in Cleveland, Ohio. It served in the Great Lakes trade, carrying cargo such as pine lumber until its loss in 1879.

Significant Incidents

  • Date of Loss: September 4, 1879
  • Incident: Caught in a severe gale, the vessel was driven into the shallows near Chantry Island, Lake Huron, and wrecked by wave action.
  • Rescue Event: A rescue attempt by crew from the passing steamer Manitoba went tragically awry—three of four rescuers drowned when their yawl capsized. The schooner crew was saved, but three rescuers perished.

Final Disposition

The Mary and Lucy was declared a total constructive loss, having been broken to pieces by storm waves.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck site is located near Chantry Island, but specific details about the current condition of the wreck are not documented.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”mary-and-lucy-1855″ title=”References & Links”]

The Mary and Lucy was a Cleveland-built schooner laden with pine that succumbed to stormy conditions on September 4, 1879, near Chantry Island in Lake Huron. The vessel was destroyed in the shallows and her crew survived. In a tragic twist, three would-be rescuers from the steamer Manitoba drowned during the rescue. This event highlights the perilous nature of Great Lakes storms and the bravery of mariners in attempting rescue under extreme conditions.

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.

Here is the academically refined, fully cited profile for the Mary and Lucy, lost during a severe storm on September 4, 1879, in Lake Huron

Identification & Construction

  • Name: Mary and Lucy
  • Built: 1855 by Roderick Calkins, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Type: Wooden schooner
  • Dimensions: Approximately 94 × 23 × 7 ft, gross tonnage ~113 GRT
  • Cargo: Pine lumber
  • Crew: 4 (crew size at time of loss)

Final Voyage & Wreck

  • Date of Loss: September 4, 1879
  • Incident: Caught in a severe gale, the vessel was driven into the shallows near Chantry Island, Lake Huron, and wrecked by wave action (Goderich, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • Rescue Event: A rescue attempt by crew from the passing steamer Manitoba went tragically awry—three of four rescuers drowned when their yawl capsized. The schooner crew was saved, but three rescuers perished (Goderich).

Human Impact & Aftermath

  • Mary and Lucy’s crew escaped to safety.
  • Tragic loss of life: Three rescuers from the Manitoba lost their lives in a heroic but ill-fated attempt to save others.
  • The wreck was declared a total constructive loss, broken to pieces by storm waves (Goderich, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Archival Sources

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (“M” list) entry for Mary and Lucy confirms build details, loss date, cargo, rescue incident, and casualties (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
  • Town of Goderich shipwreck records provide location and narrative context (Goderich).

Gaps & Follow‑Up Suggestions

Research TopicRecommended Action
Crew identities & survivor reportsExamine Goderich Signal-Star and Toronto Globe archives (Sept 1879) for quotes and names.
Manitoba rescue crew detailsSeek Manitoba ship logs or maritime personnel records listing the three who perished.
Exact wreck location mappingUse historical charts to locate the wreck site off Chantry Island; follow up with dive survey planning.
Pine lumber value and impactReview shipping documents and cargo manifests from Cleveland for economic context.

Conclusion

The Mary and Lucy was a Cleveland-built schooner laden with pine that succumbed to stormy conditions on September 4, 1879, near Chantry Island in Lake Huron. The vessel was destroyed in the shallows and her crew survived. In a tragic twist, three would-be rescuers from the steamer Manitoba drowned during the rescue. This event highlights the perilous nature of Great Lakes storms and the bravery of mariners in attempting rescue under extreme conditions.

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