Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Mary Woolson
- Type: Three-Masted Wooden Schooner-Barge
- Year Built: 1888
- Builder: James Davidson
- Dimensions: 179 ft (54.5 m); Beam: 35 ft (10.7 m); Depth of hold: 13 ft (4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 709 gross tons; 673 net tons
- Location: 8 miles northeast of Sturgeon Point, near Harrisville, Michigan
- Official Number: 91988
- Original Owners: Likely part of the Davidson fleet, West Bay City, Michigan
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Mary Woolson was a large wooden three-masted schooner-barge built in 1888 by James Davidson in West Bay City, Michigan. She was one of many bulk freight schooner-barges built by Davidson, designed for towing behind steamships. These barges extended the carrying capacity of a steamer, allowing for multiple vessels to move freight in a single tow. She likely hauled cargo such as coal, iron ore, or grain, which were the most common bulk goods transported on the Great Lakes.
Description
By 1920, the Mary Woolson was over 30 years old, but still in service as a schooner-barge under tow.
History
Final Voyage & Loss (July 8 or 18, 1920)
Towing Arrangement: The Mary Woolson was being towed by the steamer Charles D. Bradley along with another schooner-barge, the Miztec. This type of “tow train” was common in the early 20th century, as steamers pulled multiple unpowered schooner-barges to maximize efficiency.
Collision in Mid-Lake: While sailing northeast of Sturgeon Point, the steamer Charles D. Bradley slowed suddenly for unknown reasons. The two barges following behind—Miztec and Mary Woolson—could not stop in time. Both barges rammed into the stern of Charles D. Bradley, with Mary Woolson sustaining severe bow damage.
Sinking and Crew Rescue: The impact left Mary Woolson taking on water rapidly. Within a short time, she foundered and sank in Lake Huron’s deep waters. Fortunately, the steamer Huron arrived quickly on the scene, rescuing the entire crew of the barges.
Significant Incidents
- Collision with the steamer Charles D. Bradley while under tow, resulting in severe bow damage and sinking.
Final Disposition
The Mary Woolson sank in Lake Huron, and her wreck remains undiscovered. The location is approximately 8 miles northeast of Sturgeon Point, near Harrisville, Michigan.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As a wooden vessel lost over a century ago, Mary Woolson has likely deteriorated significantly. However, Lake Huron’s cold, fresh waters can preserve wooden wrecks, meaning her remains may still be largely intact. The wreck has not been widely documented, making it a potential site for future exploration.
Given its location near other known wrecks, divers and sonar teams may eventually locate the remains of Mary Woolson. If discovered, the wreck could provide insights into late 19th-century schooner-barge construction and Great Lakes towing operations.
Resources & Links
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The Mary Woolson was a large wooden schooner-barge, built in 1888 by James Davidson, and spent over 30 years in service as a towed bulk freight carrier. Her final voyage in July 1920 ended when she collided with the steamer Charles D. Bradley while in tow, suffering catastrophic bow damage before foundering in Lake Huron. While no lives were lost, her wreck remains undiscovered, making her a potential target for future exploration. As one of the many wooden schooner-barges lost in the era of steam towing, Mary Woolson represents a transitional period in Great Lakes shipping history, when wooden vessels still played a role in the increasingly industrialized bulk freight trade.
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