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.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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