Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Mary D. Ayer
- Type: Wooden 3-Masted Schooner (originally built as a Bark)
- Year Built: 1854
- Builder: S. Kirby & J. Hoyt, East Saginaw, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length: 144 ft (43.9 m); Beam: 29 ft (8.8 m); Depth of hold: 11 ft (3.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 472 tons
- Location: Off Grosse Pointe, Illinois
- Official Number: 12973
- Number of Masts: 3
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Mary D. Ayer was originally constructed as the bark Jesse Hoyt in 1854 in East Saginaw, Michigan. Barks were square-rigged vessels ideal for long-distance bulk cargo transport, but as shipping technology advanced and the need for greater maneuverability increased, many barks—including the Jesse Hoyt—were converted into 3-masted schooners. This conversion, completed by 1882, allowed for greater efficiency in handling and a smaller crew requirement.
Description
At 144 feet in length and 472 gross tons, the Mary D. Ayer was a mid-sized freight schooner suitable for transporting bulk cargo like grain, lumber, and coal across the Great Lakes. Her wooden hull and three-mast rig made her a reliable workhorse during an era of rapid maritime development in the region.
History
The Mary D. Ayer had a long and eventful career on the Great Lakes. As the Jesse Hoyt, she served in the bulk cargo trade, carrying lumber and grain from ports in Michigan and Wisconsin to urban centers like Chicago and Milwaukee. After her conversion to a schooner in 1882 and renaming as Mary D. Ayer, she continued to serve as a freight carrier, though by the late 19th century, steam-powered vessels were beginning to dominate the lakes.
Significant Incidents
- Previous Incident (1887): In September 1887, the Mary D. Ayer ran ashore in the Straits of Mackinac and was initially thought lost. However, she was later refloated and repaired, returning to service until her final voyage in 1896.
Final Disposition
The Mary D. Ayer sank off Grosse Pointe, Illinois, and was declared a total loss. There is no record of a salvage operation, and the wreck likely remains submerged in Lake Michigan.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There is no confirmed modern discovery of the Mary D. Ayer‘s wreck. However, Grosse Pointe and the nearby waters are home to many shipwrecks, and the vessel may still rest in the depths of Lake Michigan.
Resources & Links
References are being reviewed for this wreck.
The Mary D. Ayer‘s tragic loss in 1896 marks the end of a vessel that had navigated the Great Lakes for over four decades. Originally launched as the bark Jesse Hoyt in 1854, her conversion to a 3-masted schooner in 1882 reflects the evolving needs of Great Lakes commerce. Her collision with the steamer Onoko in dense fog near Grosse Pointe highlights the dangers of maritime navigation in the pre-modern era, where limited visibility and crowded shipping lanes often led to fatal accidents. The loss of five crew members serves as a somber reminder of the perils faced by mariners during the height of the Great Lakes shipping boom.