Thomas P. Sheldon US 24871

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Thomas P. Sheldon
• Type: Three-masted wooden schooner
• Year Built: 1871
• Builder: William Croswaith, East Saginaw, Michigan
• Dimensions: Length: 194 ft (59.1 m); Beam: 33 ft (10.1 m); Depth of hold: 12 ft (3.7 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 669.46 gross, 635.99 net
• Location: Off Oscoda, Michigan
• Official Number: 24871
• Original Owners: Brown et al. in Buffalo, NY
• Number of Masts: Three

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

A large, full-rigged three-masted schooner—at the time the largest ever built on the Saginaw River—designed as a bulk-freight vessel, primarily for lumber transport.

Description

Single-deck wooden schooner with extensive hold space. Built robustly to support heavy timber cargoes. The large hull and sail plan indicate long-haul capability across the Great Lakes.

History

• 19 Oct 1871: Grounded on Lake Huron early in service.
• 29 Oct 1874: Struck a reef at the Lime Kilns in the Detroit River; subsequently repaired.
• 1876: Registered to Brown et al. in Buffalo, NY.
• 18 Jun 1881: Collision with schooner Pensaukee in fog off Racine, Wisconsin—Lake Michigan.
• May–Aug 1886: Struck in St. Mary’s River; raised after sinking.
• 18 Nov 1886: Went ashore near Alpena, Michigan, Lake Huron.
• 3 Aug 1894: Sprung a leak off Keweenaw Point, Lake Superior.
• 10 Aug 1901: Final collision and sinking off AuSable Point, near Oscoda, MI, Lake Huron.

These events illustrate multiple rebuilds and heavy use over a 30-year career (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Significant Incidents

• Grounded on Lake Huron early in service (19 Oct 1871).
• Struck a reef at the Lime Kilns in the Detroit River (29 Oct 1874).
• Collision with schooner Pensaukee in fog off Racine, Wisconsin (18 Jun 1881).
• Struck in St. Mary’s River; raised after sinking (May–Aug 1886).
• Went ashore near Alpena, Michigan (18 Nov 1886).
• Sprung a leak off Keweenaw Point, Lake Superior (3 Aug 1894).
• Final collision and sinking off AuSable Point (10 Aug 1901).

Final Disposition

On 10 August 1901, while under tow by the steamer Waverly, Thomas P. Sheldon was holed amid a storm close to shore off Oscoda. The towing steamer also ran aground, and during a subsequent storm on 25 August, the schooner broke apart in shallow water. Both vessels belonged to J.C. Gilchrist’s fleet. No loss of life reported (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).

Current Condition & Accessibility

No modern wreck dive or discovery records. Wreckage likely destroyed in storm and salvaged, with no remaining site known.

Resources & Links

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The Thomas P. Sheldon stands out as a record-setting Saginaw-built bulk carrier, enduring heavy use and multiple incidents over three decades. Its demise reflects the risks of towing large lumber schooners during late-season gales. Its structural legacy and repeated rebuilds illustrate evolving maritime resilience in the late 19th century.