Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Peoria
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1854
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Near Bailey’s Harbor, Lake Michigan
- Original Owners: Not specifically recorded
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Peoria was a wooden schooner, a common workhorse on the Great Lakes, designed for the bulk carriage of cargoes like lumber, grain, and coal. Schooners of this era were robust and efficient under sail power, often trading between Michigan’s lumber ports and major city markets such as Chicago.
Description
Launched in 1854, the Peoria had nearly five decades of service on the lakes, carrying a variety of cargoes, primarily lumber. Like many schooners, she would have seen repeated groundings, repairs, and seasonal overhauls over her long working life.
History
On 12 November 1901, the Peoria was bound from East Jordan, Michigan to Chicago with a load of hardwood lumber when she encountered a severe late-autumn gale on Lake Michigan. Unable to maintain her course, she was driven ashore near Bailey’s Harbor, Wisconsin.
Significant Incidents
- The Peoria was pounded by waves after grounding and broke up, becoming a total loss.
- The entire crew was successfully rescued by the Bailey’s Harbor Lifesaving Station.
- No cargo salvage was recorded, and the vessel was considered unsalvageable.
Final Disposition
The schooner was pounded by waves after grounding and broke up, becoming a total loss. Fortunately, the Bailey’s Harbor Lifesaving Station successfully rescued the entire crew. No cargo salvage was recorded, and the vessel was considered unsalvageable.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The exact condition of any remains is unknown. Given the violent destruction in shallow surf and 120+ years of exposure, any structure would be minimal and buried in shifting sand near the shore.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”peoria-1854″ title=”References & Links”]
The Peoria is an example of a classic Lake Michigan lumber schooner lost to the fierce storms of November, a common hazard for late-season shipping on the Great Lakes. While the vessel was destroyed, the safe rescue of her crew by the Bailey’s Harbor Lifesaving Station stands out as a testament to early lifesaving services on the Great Lakes.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
Join Shotline to read more →