Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Minnie Doak US 17994

Explore the wreck of the Minnie Doak, a wooden schooner lost in winter ice near Black Lake, Wisconsin, in the early 1870s.

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.

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.

(Wooden Schooner – built 1867; wrecked late 1870 or early 1871)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

Loss Details

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 & Incident Overview

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 (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

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.

Located By & Survey Status

  • 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.

Notams & Advisories

No Notices to Mariners or hazard bulletins were issued. Given that she wrecked near shore and structural remains were likely dissipated, the site was not a navigational hazard planned for long-term notice.

Resources & Links

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files – D‑section entry on Minnie Doak: primary source for build specs, loss date, location, and wreck details (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Gaps & Suggested Next Steps

  • Precise date verification: Local newspapers from Door County or Ashland region in late 1870 or early 1871 (e.g., Sturgeon Bay Advocate) may clarify the month/year of loss.
  • Crew and ownership records: Port registers or manifests may identify the master or crew; owners Robert Miller and W. H. Ewing warrant further archival queries.
  • Narrative accounts: Investigation of ship logs, U.S. Lifesaving Service reports, or marine board entries may provide details of the wreck and any attempted salvage.
  • Field reconnaissance: A winter-season aerial or shoreline survey near Black Lake harbor entrance might yield debris patterns or historical markers.

Conclusion

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.

minnie-doak-us-17994 1870-11-26 17:42:00