Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Reciprocity
- Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1855
- Builder: Possibly Detroit or Sandusky area (precise yard unconfirmed)
- Dimensions: Estimated 30–35 m (98–115 feet) in length; beam about 7 m (23 feet); tonnage approx. 220–250 tons
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown (typical for pre-1867 schooners)
- Location: Near the Michigan shoreline (exact site uncharted)
- Coordinates: Approximate, but not precisely recorded
- Official Number: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Reciprocity was a two-masted wooden schooner designed for Great Lakes bulk cargo, carrying a variety of forest products and other goods through the lakes and connected waterways. These vessels were the backbone of the mid-19th century timber and agricultural trade.
Description
The Reciprocity was built of white oak, with iron fastenings and traditional centreboard schooner rigging. She was generally considered a medium-sized timber hauler, optimized for low-cost inland trade with minimal crew requirements.
History
On 15 October 1880, the Reciprocity was loaded with cedar posts and telegraph poles, headed for western Michigan markets. During the gale known historically as “The Alpena Storm” — a powerful system that wrecked dozens of ships — she was driven ashore on the Michigan coast. The crew survived the grounding, and no fatalities were reported.
The Alpena Storm of 1880 was one of the worst autumn gales recorded on the Great Lakes, with hurricane-force winds and waves devastating shipping from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan.
Significant Incidents
- Grounded during the Alpena Storm on 15 October 1880.
- No fatalities reported; crew survived the incident.
Final Disposition
The Reciprocity was declared a total loss after being driven ashore. No salvage of the hull was recorded, and she was likely broken up on site or scavenged by locals for usable timber.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern survey or dive recovery has confirmed her remains; she is considered a total constructive loss with no surviving archaeological features documented.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”reciprocity-1855″ title=”References & Links”]
The Reciprocity is a classic example of the hundreds of small Great Lakes schooners lost during major gales of the late 1800s. Her role in transporting essential telegraph poles and cedar fence posts shows how such vessels supported the economic growth of the Great Lakes basin. Although no visible wreckage survives, her story is a testament to the hazards faced by 19th-century maritime trade.
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
- Name(s): Reciprocity
- Year Built: 1855
- Builder: Possibly Detroit or Sandusky area (precise yard unconfirmed)
- Registration Number: Unknown (typical for pre-1867 schooners)
- Vessel Type: Two-masted wooden schooner
- Dimensions: Estimated 30–35 m (98–115 feet) in length; beam about 7 m (23 feet); tonnage approx. 220–250 tons
- Final Resting Place: Near the Michigan shoreline (exact site uncharted)
- Coordinates: Approximate, but not precisely recorded
- Date Lost: 15 October 1880
- Depth: Presumed shallow, as she went aground
Vessel Type
The Reciprocity was a two-masted wooden schooner designed for Great Lakes bulk cargo, carrying a variety of forest products and other goods through the lakes and connected waterways. These vessels were the backbone of the mid-19th century timber and agricultural trade.
Description
The Reciprocity was built of white oak, with iron fastenings and traditional centreboard schooner rigging. She was generally considered a medium-sized timber hauler, optimized for low-cost inland trade with minimal crew requirements.
History
On 15 October 1880, the Reciprocity was loaded with cedar posts and telegraph poles, headed for western Michigan markets. During the gale known historically as “The Alpena Storm” — a powerful system that wrecked dozens of ships — she was driven ashore on the Michigan coast. The crew survived the grounding, and no fatalities were reported.
The Alpena Storm of 1880 was one of the worst autumn gales recorded on the Great Lakes, with hurricane-force winds and waves devastating shipping from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan.
Final Dispositions
The Reciprocity was declared a total loss after being driven ashore. No salvage of the hull was recorded, and she was likely broken up on site or scavenged by locals for usable timber.
Located By & Date Found
No modern survey or dive recovery has confirmed her remains; she is considered a total constructive loss with no surviving archaeological features documented.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted on current charts, as no recognized wreck site exists.
Resources & Links
Conclusion
The Reciprocity is a classic example of the hundreds of small Great Lakes schooners lost during major gales of the late 1800s. Her role in transporting essential telegraph poles and cedar fence posts shows how such vessels supported the economic growth of the Great Lakes basin. Although no visible wreckage survives, her story is a testament to the hazards faced by 19th-century maritime trade.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Keywords: Reciprocity, Alpena Storm, 1880 shipwreck, Michigan schooner, Great Lakes gale losses
- Categories: Great Lakes schooners, wooden vessel wrecks, cargo trade, storm wrecks
- Glossary Terms: centreboard schooner, total constructive loss, gale, marine salvage
If you’d like, I can help plot the Alpena Storm ship losses in a timeline or map — just say the word!
reciprocity-1855 1880-10-15 12:50:00