Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Norway
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: Likely a Michigan or Ohio shipyard (exact builder unconfirmed)
- Dimensions: Approximate length 118–131 ft (36–40 m); Beam 26 ft (8 m); Depth of hold not documented
- Registered Tonnage: Estimated 300–400 tons
- Location: Lake Huron shoreline (precise location unknown)
- Coordinates: Not charted
- Official Number: Undocumented
- Original Owners: Not documented, but active on Lake Huron routes
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Norway was a typical wooden schooner of the Great Lakes lumber and bulk cargo trade, designed to handle large deck loads, with a shallow draft and robust framing to withstand seasonal storms and heavy cargo such as timber, grain, or iron ore.
Description
Launched in 1873, the Norway worked across Lakes Huron and Michigan for nearly 16 years. She was a routine trader, carrying general cargo and likely lumber, reflecting the standard working schooner profile of the late 19th century.
In 1889, while navigating Lake Huron, the Norway encountered a severe storm and stranded along the Michigan shoreline. Historical records indicate she was wrecked beyond practical salvage. There is no confirmed loss of life in contemporary reports.
By November 20, 1890, her owners surrendered her official registration documents at Port Huron, Michigan, with an annotation noting “total loss.” That conclusively ended her enrollment, confirming she was abandoned after the wreck.
History
Declared a total constructive loss, the Norway was left to break up onshore or be scavenged piecemeal. No salvage or rebuilding was recorded.
Significant Incidents
- 1889: Stranded and wrecked during a severe storm on Lake Huron.
- 1890: Official registration documents surrendered, confirming total loss.
Final Disposition
There is no confirmed modern survey or dive site associated with this schooner. Her wreckage is presumed lost to shoreline erosion or buried in sand.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No active Notmar warnings exist for this vessel.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”norway-1873″ title=”References & Links”]
The Norway is representative of the thousands of wooden schooners that worked the Great Lakes lumber and cargo trades and succumbed to storms in the 19th century. While her final resting place is unknown, the documentation of her loss and the surrender of her papers in 1890 preserves her story in the historical record.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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