Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Minnie Doak
- Type: Wooden Schooner
- Year Built: 1867
- Builder: Alexander Doak, De Pere, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: Approximately 44 ft (13.41 m) long × 12 ft beam × 5 ft depth
- Registered Tonnage: 14 gross tons
- Location: About 1 mile north of the entrance to Black Lake, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 17994
- Original Owners: Robert Miller and W. H. Ewing
- Number of Masts: Two-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Minnie Doak was a two-masted wooden schooner of scow-type, primarily employed in nearshore trade.
Description
The Minnie Doak was a small, shallow-draft wooden schooner built in 1867 at De Pere, Wisconsin, by Alexander Doak. At roughly 44 ft in length (14 gt), she was designed for light coastal or harbor trade on Lake Michigan. She likely hauled small cargoes or served local transport routes near Green Bay or Door County.
History
Constructed in 1867, the schooner was owned by Robert Miller and W. H. Ewing. In late 1870 or early 1871, while near Black Lake (Wisconsin), she was blown onto ice floes during winter winds. The hull was battered by shifting ice, and the vessel “wrecked near shore.” Initial assessments reportedly believed the schooner might be salvageable the next spring. However, a visit in March 1871 confirmed that she was a total loss—broken beyond repair.
Significant Incidents
- Date of Loss: Fall 1870 or February 1871 (sources vary).
- Type of Loss: Wrecked during winter ice conditions after being blown onto ice floes and driven ashore.
- Loss of Life: None documented in available sources.
Final Disposition
The Minnie Doak remained wrecked by the ice through winter. No salvage effort was successful, and by spring 1871 she was deemed irretrievable. No hull salvage, diving, or recovery is recorded in subsequent maritime reports.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no records of a modern archaeological discovery or wreck-site mapping. Ice and shallow waters likely destroyed most structure. The vessel remains undocumented in underwater survey databases.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”minnie-doak-us-17994″ title=”References & Links”]
The schooner Minnie Doak, built in De Pere in 1867 and measuring roughly 44 ft, was lost in winter ice after being driven ashore near Black Lake, Wisconsin, in late 1870 or February 1871. Believed salvageable initially, she was later determined to be irretrievably wrecked. No injuries were reported, and no wreck site has been identified. Further archival exploration could shed light on the incident date and vessel ownership details.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →