Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: St. Nicholas
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1853
- Builder: Likely in New York or Great Lakes region
- Dimensions: Not documented
- Registered Tonnage: Not recorded
- Location: Driven ashore off Lake Huron (exact spot not recorded)
- Official Number: Not recorded
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A mid–19th-century wooden cargo schooner designed for bulk freight—frequented Great Lakes grain routes of the era, notably between Chicago and eastern ports.
Description
Departing Chicago with 10,000 bushels of wheat bound for Kingston, the St. Nicholas encountered a powerful storm on 23 November 1857. Waterlogged by waves, she was forced ashore and wrecked. Despite rescue operations, one crew member perished. Contemporary reports highlighted her struggle in high seas before grounding.
History
The St. Nicholas, a grain-carrying schooner built circa 1853, was lost during a 23 November 1857 storm on Lake Huron. Her waterlogged hull ran ashore, claiming one crew member. The wreck remains unlocated and uncharted.
Significant Incidents
- Wrecked by heavy surf and abandoned after grounding.
- One crew member lost during the storm.
Final Disposition
Wrecked by heavy surf and abandoned after grounding. The vessel was declared a total loss; recovery of cargo and hull fragments is not documented.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck was observed shortly after grounding, but no precise coordinates or modern archaeological surveys exist. The site remains unidentified.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”st-nicholas-1853″ title=”References & Links”]
No navigational markers or charted hazards exist specifically for this wreck. The Lake Huron shoreline remains subject to late-fall storms and shifting shoals.
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.
Identification & Site Information
- Name: St. Nicholas
- Built: 1853 (likely in New York or Great Lakes region)
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Dimensions: Not documented
- Final Loss: 23 November 1857
- Location: Driven ashore off Lake Huron (exact spot not recorded)
- Cargo: 10,000 bu wheat
- Crew & Casualties: One crew member lost
Vessel Type
A mid‑19th-century wooden cargo schooner designed for bulk freight—frequented Great Lakes grain routes of the era, notably between Chicago and eastern ports.
History & Final Voyage
Departing Chicago with 10,000 bushels of wheat bound for Kingston, the St. Nicholas encountered a powerful storm on 23 November 1857. Waterlogged by waves, she was forced ashore and wrecked. Despite rescue operations, one crew member perished. Contemporary reports highlighted her struggle in high seas before grounding.
Final Disposition
Wrecked by heavy surf and abandoned after grounding. The vessel was declared a total loss; recovery of cargo and hull fragments is not documented.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck was observed shortly after grounding, but no precise coordinates or modern archaeological surveys exist. The site remains unidentified.
Notmars & Advisories
No navigational markers or charted hazards exist specifically for this wreck. The Lake Huron shoreline remains subject to late-fall storms and shifting shoals.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry (build, loss date, cargo data, casualty)
- 1857 newspaper accounts (e.g., Chicago Tribune, Kingston Whig) confirming grounding and crew loss
Conclusion
The St. Nicholas, a grain-carrying schooner built circa 1853, was lost during a 23 November 1857 storm on Lake Huron. Her waterlogged hull ran ashore, claiming one crew member. The wreck remains unlocated and uncharted.