Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Olga
- Type: Wooden-Hulled Schooner
- Year Built: 1881
- Builder: Rand & Burger, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: 137 ft (41.8 m); Beam: 30.4 ft (9.3 m); Depth of hold: 10 ft (3 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 308 tons
- Location: Near Goderich, Ontario, Lake Huron
- Official Number: 155029
- Original Owners: Captain William Johnson, Hook & W.H. Turner
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Olga was a wooden schooner, a versatile type of sailing vessel designed for cargo transport. Schooners were known for their agility and suitability for Great Lakes navigation, relying on fore-and-aft sails for maneuverability in changing wind conditions.
Description
The Olga was launched in May 1881 and originally owned by Captain William Johnson of Chicago. The vessel saw decades of service, transporting goods across the Great Lakes and, later, to the Gulf of Mexico.
History
Early Ownership: By 1900, the Olga was owned by Hook & W.H. Turner of Beaumont, Texas, and had been moved to the Gulf of Mexico via the St. Lawrence River—a rare journey for a Great Lakes schooner.
Notable Incidents:
- May 25, 1905: Collided with steamers Saunders and Clarion in the St. Clair River near Sarnia, Ontario. The vessel sank but was later refloated and repaired.
- October 21, 1905: Stranded at Pictured Rocks in Lake Superior.
These incidents foreshadowed the schooner’s eventual demise later that year.
Significant Incidents
Final Disposition: On November 26, 1905, the Olga was being towed by the steamer F.A. Meyers when it broke loose during a storm. The crew was rescued by the steamer Maunaloa, leaving the vessel adrift. Over the next several days, the Olga drifted across Lake Huron before coming ashore near Goderich, Ontario. On December 2, 1905, the pounding waves and rough conditions caused the vessel to break apart, marking the end of its operational life.
Final Disposition
The Olga was destroyed by the storm and broken apart. No significant wreckage is reported to remain, as the vessel disintegrated along the shoreline.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Accessibility: Not applicable due to the lack of intact remains.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”olga-us-155029″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
The loss of the Olga is a stark reminder of the perils faced by schooners operating on the Great Lakes. Despite its relatively long service life, the vessel’s final voyage and destruction underscore the dangers inherent to early 20th-century maritime trade and the ever-present challenges of navigating the region’s unpredictable waters.
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.
SHIPWRECK REPORT: Olga
IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
- Name: Olga
- Type: Wooden-Hulled Schooner
- Official Number: 155029
- Year Built: 1881
- Builder: Rand & Burger, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Final Location: Near Goderich, Ontario, Lake Huron
- Date of Incident: December 2, 1905
- CONSTRUCTION & SPECIFICATIONS
- Length: 137 feet (41.8 meters)
- Beam: 30.4 feet (9.3 meters)
- Depth: 10 feet (3 meters)
- Gross Tonnage: 308 tons
- Net Tonnage: 292 tons
- Cargo Capacity: Approximately 300 tons
- Sister Ship: Alice
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
The Olga was a wooden schooner, a versatile type of sailing vessel designed for cargo transport. Schooners were known for their agility and suitability for Great Lakes navigation, relying on fore-and-aft sails for maneuverability in changing wind conditions.
HISTORY
The Olga was launched in May 1881 and originally owned by Captain William Johnson of Chicago. The vessel saw decades of service, transporting goods across the Great Lakes and, later, to the Gulf of Mexico.
Early Ownership: By 1900, the Olga was owned by Hook & W.H. Turner of Beaumont, Texas, and had been moved to the Gulf of Mexico via the St. Lawrence River—a rare journey for a Great Lakes schooner.
Notable Incidents:
- May 25, 1905: Collided with steamers Saunders and Clarion in the St. Clair River near Sarnia, Ontario. The vessel sank but was later refloated and repaired.
- October 21, 1905: Stranded at Pictured Rocks in Lake Superior.
These incidents foreshadowed the schooner’s eventual demise later that year.
FINAL DISPOSITION
On November 26, 1905, the Olga was being towed by the steamer F.A. Meyers when it broke loose during a storm. The crew was rescued by the steamer Maunaloa, leaving the vessel adrift. Over the next several days, the Olga drifted across Lake Huron before coming ashore near Goderich, Ontario. On December 2, 1905, the pounding waves and rough conditions caused the vessel to break apart, marking the end of its operational life.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY
- Condition: The Olga was destroyed by the storm and broken apart. No significant wreckage is reported to remain, as the vessel disintegrated along the shoreline.
- Accessibility: Not applicable due to the lack of intact remains.
SIGNIFICANCE
The Olga serves as a testament to the resilience and risks faced by wooden schooners in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its repeated mishaps and final loss highlight the challenges of navigating the Great Lakes, particularly during storm seasons.
RESOURCES & LINKS
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes: View Records
- David Swayze Shipwreck File: Comprehensive details on Great Lakes shipwrecks, including the Olga.
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection: Historical archives related to schooners and other Great Lakes vessels.
KEYWORDS
Olga, schooner, Lake Huron shipwreck, 1905 maritime disaster, Great Lakes schooners, Goderich wreck
CONCLUSION
The loss of the Olga is a stark reminder of the perils faced by schooners operating on the Great Lakes. Despite its relatively long service life, the vessel’s final voyage and destruction underscore the dangers inherent to early 20th-century maritime trade and the ever-present challenges of navigating the region’s unpredictable waters.
olga-us-155029 1905-12-02 07:54:00