Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Rebecca
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1853
- Builder: Gilmore, Toledo, Ohio
- Dimensions: ~112 × 23 × 10 ft; 193 tons
- Registered Tonnage: 193 tons
- Location: Near Alabaster, Michigan
- Official Number: 21141
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Rebecca is classified as a two-masted wooden schooner, a common vessel type for cargo and transport on the Great Lakes during the 19th century.
Description
Built in 1853 by Gilmore in Toledo, Ohio, the Rebecca measured approximately 112 feet in length, 23 feet in beam, and had a hold depth of 10 feet. She was registered at 193 tons.
History
In September 1872, Rebecca encountered a storm on Lake Huron near Alabaster, Michigan. During this storm, she was being towed south by a tugboat when a gale tore her loose, resulting in her being hurled ashore. Although no injuries to the crew were reported, the vessel was believed to be a total loss. Earlier in her career, she had stranded near Detour Passage in 186?, but was recovered and refloated.
Significant Incidents
- Stranded near Detour Passage in 186? but was recovered.
- Caught in a storm in September 1872, leading to her being towed ashore and believed to be a total loss.
Final Disposition
Despite being initially reported as a complete loss, two Bay City captains purchased and salvaged Rebecca in 1873, returning her to service. She remained listed in registries through the 1880s, finally disappearing from official records by 1883, indicating scrapping or another unrecorded loss. The wreck near Alabaster likely left timbers and hardware beached or submerged in shallow coastal areas.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is uncertain, but it is believed that remnants may still be present near Alabaster, Michigan, where the vessel was lost.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”rebecca-us-21141″ title=”References & Links”]
The Rebecca’s multiple incidents highlight the challenges of early towing operations and coastal navigation on Lake Huron. As a vessel that was both lost and recovered, she provides insight into mid-19th-century salvage practices and the economic resilience of Great Lakes maritime communities.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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