Melrose

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Melrose
• Type: Wooden sailing schooner
• Year Built:
• Builder:
• Dimensions:
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Near Sheboygan, Wisconsin
• Original Owners: Likely owned by J. B. Scott of Detroit

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

(schooner)

Description

The Melrose was a typical bulk-cargo schooner designed for transporting salt, grain, or lumber between Great Lakes ports. She was particularly vulnerable to late-season storms, making her journey across Lake Michigan perilous.

History

Built as a wooden sailing schooner, the Melrose was primarily used for bulk cargo transport. On her final voyage, she was upbound from Bay City, Michigan to Chicago, carrying 3,000 barrels of salt. The vessel had undergone rebuilds in 1859 and 1869, indicating a history of use and refurbishment.

Significant Incidents

• Struck by a severe storm while crossing Lake Michigan near Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
• Driven over a sandbar and onto a rocky section, which stove in her bottom.
• Declared a total wreck by October 5, 1874; only part of her rigging was salvageable.
• No lives were lost in the incident.

Final Disposition

The Melrose was classified as a total loss shortly after the wreck. The crew was rescued, and Captain Brown was reassigned to another vessel, the William Sanderson, which sank the following month, resulting in his death.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The current condition of the wreck is unknown, but it is classified as a confirmed wreck site.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”melrose” title=”References & Links”]

The Melrose was a salt-laden schooner bound for Chicago when she wrecked in a late-season storm near Sheboygan. With her bottom holed on a rocky barge and her hull broken beyond repair, she became a total loss by October 5, 1874. The crew survived, but Captain Brown’s subsequent assignment ended tragically. Her loss underscores the hazards faced by bulk-carriers in turbulent Great Lakes weather, especially during fall crossings.