Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: R.P. Mason
- Type: Wooden three-masted schooner, later converted to barge
- Year Built: 1867
- Builder: Harrison C. Pierson at Ferrysburg, Michigan
- Dimensions: 115 × 24.6 × 7.9 ft (35 × 7.5 × 2.4 m); 155 GRT
- Registered Tonnage: 155 GRT
- Location: Green Bay, dockside at Seavey Mill pier
- Coordinates: Approximate coordinates: N 44° 07.640′, W 087° 20.131′
- Official Number: 21877
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The R.P. Mason was a wooden three-masted schooner, which was later converted into a barge. Initially designed for carrying lumber and milling equipment, it played a significant role in the maritime trade of the Great Lakes.
Description
Constructed in 1867 by Harrison C. Pierson in Ferrysburg, Michigan, the R.P. Mason measured 115 feet in length, 24.6 feet in beam, and had a depth of 7.9 feet. The vessel was registered at 155 gross tons and was primarily used for transporting lumber and milling gear.
History
The R.P. Mason served for five decades, initially as a lumber schooner before its conversion to a barge. It was involved in the transportation of various goods, including engines and sawmills, contributing to the industrial activities in the region.
Significant Incidents
- Date: 20 June 1917
- Location: Green Bay (Lake Michigan), dockside at Seavey Mill pier
- Incident: A fire began in the adjacent Seavey sawmill, spreading to piers and engulfing the R.P. Mason as it was loading gear. The vessel broke free, drifted, burned to the waterline, and subsequently sank.
- Casualties: Unspecified, but no notable loss of life recorded in the same reports.
Final Disposition
The R.P. Mason was destroyed by fire, which burned through its mooring lines. The vessel drifted and sank stern-first in Green Bay. The wreck was not raised and is likely buried or scattered in shallow waters near the mill’s old location.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No formal wreck survey or GPS record has been documented for the R.P. Mason. However, as a steel-era vessel, any remains are accessible to shallow-water exploration. The approximate coordinates for the wreck are N 44° 07.640′, W 087° 20.131′.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”r-p-mason-us-21877″ title=”References & Links”]
The R.P. Mason remains an important part of maritime history, representing the shipbuilding and shipping industry of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its loss in a catastrophic fire highlights the dangers faced by vessels of that era. The wreck, while uncharted, offers potential for historical exploration in the shallow waters of Green Bay.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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