Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Pierrepont (1852)

Explore the wreck of the Pierrepont, a wooden schooner that sank in Lake Michigan in 1881, offering a glimpse into 19th-century maritime history.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Pierrepont
  • Type: Schooner
  • Year Built: 1852
  • Builder: Ellenwood at Sackett's Harbor, New York
  • Dimensions: Approximately 98 ft (29.9 m) L × 23 ft beam × 9 ft depth; 153 tons registered
  • Registered Tonnage: 153 tons
  • Location: Near the entrance to the Sturgeon Bay Canal, Lake Michigan
  • Official Number: 19759
  • Number of Masts: Two-masted

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Pierrepont was characteristic of mid-19th century Great Lakes schooners—moderate-sized, wooden-built vessels designed for versatile general cargo operations. By 1881, she was approaching 30 years of service, reflecting durability in construction and upkeep.

Description

The Pierrepont was a wooden two-masted schooner, primarily used for general cargo. Built in 1852, she was approximately 98 feet long, with a beam of 23 feet and a depth of 9 feet. The vessel had a registered tonnage of 153 tons.

History

The Pierrepont was constructed by Ellenwood at Sackett’s Harbor, New York, and served the Great Lakes for nearly three decades. Her operational history reflects the typical use of schooners during this period, engaging in various cargo transport activities.

Significant Incidents

  • Date: November 26, 1881
  • Location: Near the entrance to the Sturgeon Bay Canal, Lake Michigan
  • Conditions: Stormy weather with strong winds
  • Incident: While anchored on pilings awaiting shelter, a sudden wind shift drove her into the pilings, causing rapid hull damage. She sank in shallow water, though the crew were rescued before fully submerged.
  • Casualties: None — no crew lost.

Final Disposition

  • Outcome: Swamped and sank near pilings in shallow water; crew rescued pre-sinking.
  • Wreck: Likely lies partially intact, submerged at moderate depth near Sturgeon Bay’s canal entrance; not reported salvaged or surveyed.
  • Notices: No formal Notices to Mariners identified.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the Pierrepont is believed to be partially intact and submerged in shallow water near the Sturgeon Bay Canal entrance. It has not been reported salvaged or surveyed, making it a potential site for exploration.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”pierrepont-1852″ title=”References & Links”]

The schooner Pierrepont demonstrates the hazards of winter anchorage during gales: struck by sudden winds despite anchoring measures, she was driven into piles and quickly sank. The rescue of her crew suggests rapid response from local vessels or shore watchers. Her remains, likely resting near Sturgeon Bay’s canal entrance, may still be extant and present an accessible dive site in shallow water. Further research and targeted survey could recover precise site details and produce valuable documentation.

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.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

Final Voyage & Loss

  • Date: November 26, 1881
  • Location: Near the entrance to the Sturgeon Bay Canal, Lake Michigan (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, WGRZ)
  • Conditions: Stormy weather with strong winds
  • Incident: While anchored on pilings awaiting shelter, a sudden wind shift drove her into the pilings, causing rapid hull damage. She sank in shallow water, though the crew were rescued before fully submerged (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
  • Casualties: None — no crew lost (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)

Vessel Type & Operational Context

The Pierrepont was characteristic of mid-19th century Great Lakes schooners—moderate-sized, wooden-built vessels designed for versatile general cargo operations. By 1881, she was approaching 30 years of service, reflecting durability in construction and upkeep.

Final Disposition

  • Outcome: Swamped and sank near pilings in shallow water; crew rescued pre-sinking
  • Wreck: Likely lies partially intact, submerged at moderate depth near Sturgeon Bay’s canal entrance; not reported salvaged or surveyed
  • Notices: No formal Notices to Mariners identified

Research Gaps & Next Steps

  • Archival Enrollments
    • Consult U.S. Enrollment ledgers (circa 1852, Sackett’s Harbor/Saginaw ports) for builder specs, ownership history, and master’s identity.
  • Crew & Survivors
    • Local newspaper articles (e.g., Sturgeon Bay Advocate, Green Bay Gazette) in December 1881 may report crew rescue details and harbormaster comments.
  • Survey & Dive Reconnaissance
    • Conduct initial side-scan sonar or magnetometer survey near canal pilings to identify hull remnants or debris field.
    • Shore dive may be feasible given shallow-water sinking; field inspection could confirm identity.
  • Insurance & Salvage Records
    • Explore regional marine underwriter archives (Milwaukee, Chicago, Green Bay) for loss documentation—estimation on hull and cargo value.

Conclusion

The schooner Pierrepont demonstrates the hazards of winter anchorage during gales: struck by sudden winds despite anchoring measures, she was driven into piles and quickly sank. The rescue of her crew suggests rapid response from local vessels or shore watchers. Her remains, likely resting near Sturgeon Bay’s canal entrance, may still be extant and present an accessible dive site in shallow water. Further research and targeted survey could recover precise site details and produce valuable documentation.

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