Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Poland
- Type: wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1855
- Builder: Bailey's yard, New Buffalo, Michigan
- Dimensions: 72 ft × 21 ft × 7 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 74 gross tons
- Location: Port Huron, Michigan
- Official Number: Not listed in sources
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden schooner
Description
The Poland was a wooden schooner built in 1855 at Bailey’s yard in New Buffalo, Michigan. It measured 72 feet in length, 21 feet in beam, and had a depth of 7 feet, with a registered tonnage of 74 gross tons.
History
The Poland had a turbulent service history, facing multiple incidents including capsizing in 1857 near Waukegan and again off St. Joseph in 1858. These events suggest a troubled operational life.
Significant Incidents
- Fire loss: The vessel was noted as “burned in 1878” in a Port Huron surrender document dated December 5, 1881.
- Previous incidents: A vessel named Poland reportedly wrecked on Lake Michigan in 1857 and capsized near Waukegan in 1857 and off St. Joseph in 1858.
Final Disposition
The Poland was officially documented as destroyed by fire around 1878, with no remaining wreck site likely due to the extent of the fire damage.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As the vessel was destroyed by fire, it is presumed that no physical remains exist. Further archival research is recommended to locate any salvage reports or documentation regarding the incident.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”poland-1855″ title=”References & Links”]
The schooner Poland had a turbulent history, enduring capsizes and wrecking events in the late 1850s before ultimately burning around 1878. Archival research across regional newspapers, registry lists, and port records is required to clarify her story.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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