Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

O.M. Nelson US 155066

Explore the wreck of the O.M. Nelson, a wooden schooner lost in 1899, now a dive site in Lake Michigan.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: O.M. Nelson
  • Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
  • Year Built: 1882
  • Builder: L.E. Bahle’s shipyard, Suttons Bay, Michigan
  • Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
  • Registered Tonnage: 167 GRT
  • Depth at Wreck Site: 18.3 m / 60 ft
  • Location: South side of Pilot Island, Green Bay–Lake Michigan junction
  • Official Number: 155066
  • Original Owners: Peter Hanson of Washington Island, Wisconsin, among others
  • Number of Masts: 2

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Two-masted wooden schooner, often used in lumber trade.

Description

The O.M. Nelson was a wooden schooner built in 1882, primarily engaged in the lumber trade. It was registered with a gross tonnage of 167 GRT.

History

Built at L.E. Bahle’s shipyard in Suttons Bay, Michigan, the O.M. Nelson served in the Great Lakes shipping industry until its loss in 1899.

Significant Incidents

  • Date: June 4, 1899
  • Location: South side of Pilot Island, Green Bay–Lake Michigan junction
  • Conditions: Thick fog during early-season navigation
  • Incident: The schooner ran on a reef southwest of Pilot Island and jammed fast in dense fog
  • Crew Rescue: The crew was rescued by the Porte des Mortes lighthouse keeper. U.S. Life-Saving Service took them off with no injuries reported.
  • Salvage Attempts: Tugs Monarch, Elsie, and car ferry Ann Arbor No. 3 took part, but the vessel remained jammed and was declared a total loss by December 1899.

Final Disposition

Declared a constructive total loss; documentation surrendered June 13, 1899, in Milwaukee. The wreck remains in shallow water (~60 ft) broken and scattered on a reef southwest of Pilot Island; still visited by divers.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the O.M. Nelson is partially preserved and remains a site of interest for divers and maritime archaeologists.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”o-m-nelson-us-155066″ title=”References & Links”]

Built in 1882 at Suttons Bay, the wooden schooner O.M. Nelson went aground in dense fog on June 4, 1899, on a reef southwest of Pilot Island. Rescued by the lighthouse keeper, her crew survived uninjured. Despite multiple salvage efforts by tugs and a car ferry, the vessel was abandoned and declared a total loss. The partially preserved wreck remains at the site, in roughly 60 ft of water, and draws interest from divers and maritime archaeologists.

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 1882)

Identification & Vessel Details

Final Incident – June 4, 1899 (Pilot Island, Lake Michigan)

  • Date: June 4, 1899
  • Location: South side of Pilot Island, Green Bay–Lake Michigan junction
  • Conditions: Thick fog during early‑season navigation
  • Incident: The schooner ran on a reef southwest of Pilot Island and jammed fast in dense fog
  • Crew Rescue: The crew was rescued by the Porte des Mortes lighthouse keeper. U.S. Life-Saving Service took them off with no injuries reported(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Salvage Attempts: Tugs Monarch, Elsie, and car ferry Ann Arbor No. 3 took part, but the vessel remained jammed and declared a total loss by December 1899(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Final Disposition & Wreck Condition

  • Status: Declared a constructive total loss; documentation surrendered June 13, 1899, in Milwaukee(wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
  • Wreck Site: Wreck remains in shallow water (~60 ft) broken and scattered on reef southwest of Pilot Island; still visited by divers(wisconsinshipwrecks.org)

Archival References

  • Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (N‑series) note fog grounding, crew rescue, failed salvage, and loss declaration(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Wisconsin Historic Shipwrecks Overview confirms build data, grounding site, and wreck condition(wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
  • Wisconsin Shipwrecks Database (O.M. Nelson profile) provides registry info and final voyage narrative(wisconsinshipwrecks.org)

Research Gaps & Opportunities

  • Crew Account & Identities: Lighthouse keeper and crew names may appear in Pilot Island lighthouse logs or U.S. Life-Saving Service station records
  • Weather & Fog Analysis: Regional meteorological logs for early June 1899 would confirm fog event and visibility
  • Salvage Records: Tow-boat company or salvage crew documentation—especially logs of Monarch, Elsie, and Ann Arbor No. 3—could provide insight into recovery efforts
  • Survey & Preservation: Modern dive surveys (referenced in wreck databases) may include condition assessments, photos, and protected status under shipwreck laws

Summary

Built in 1882 at Suttons Bay, the wooden schooner O.M. Nelson went aground in dense fog on June 4, 1899, on a reef southwest of Pilot Island. Rescued by the lighthouse keeper, her crew survived uninjured. Despite multiple salvage efforts by tugs and a car ferry, the vessel was abandoned and declared a total loss. The partially preserved wreck remains at the site, in roughly 60 ft of water, and draws interest from divers and maritime archaeologists.

o-m-nelson-us-155066 1899-06-04 09:21:00