Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Thomas S. Skinner
- Type: Scow schooner
- Year Built: 1869
- Builder: Thomas Dunford, Port Huron, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length: 115.3 ft (35.1 m); Beam: 27.3 ft (8.3 m); Depth of hold: 8.9 ft (2.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 195 GRT
- Location: South pier, Grand Haven Harbor entrance, Lake Michigan
- Official Number: 24781
- Original Owners: Harvey Hyde, Frank Brown, Captain Harry Davis
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Scow schooner — a flat-bottomed wooden sailing vessel optimized for transporting heavy bulk cargoes such as timber. Often used in shallower ports due to their relatively shallow draft and broad beam.
Description
Built in 1869 by Thomas Dunford in Port Huron, Thomas S. Skinner was a utilitarian Great Lakes schooner engaged in the timber trade. Her scow design allowed for hauling large deck loads of lumber across the upper Great Lakes. She saw over a decade of activity, marked by both collisions and strandings typical of her era.
History
- 1869: Launched and immediately ran ashore at Sturgeon Point, Lake Huron
- 1872: Collided with the ferry International in the St. Clair River, requiring springtime repairs
- 1873: Received a new centerboard; ownership transferred to Frank Brown of Cleveland, OH
- 1876: Again registered to Harvey Hyde, Port Huron
- 1882: Owned by Captain Harry Davis when she met her fate
She was engaged primarily in timber transport from northern Michigan forests to urban markets along Lake Michigan.
Significant Incidents
Significant incidents include:
- 1869: Launched and ran aground at Sturgeon Point.
- 1872: Collided with the ferry International.
- 1882: Stranded and wrecked near the south pier of Grand Haven.
Final Disposition
On 23 November 1882, while attempting harbor entry during adverse weather, Thomas S. Skinner struck near the south pier of Grand Haven, Michigan. She was stranded and wrecked, becoming a total loss. No fatalities were recorded.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no detailed archaeological findings of the wreck. Given the location — near a harbor structure — her remains may have been cleared or buried under subsequent sediment accumulation or pier expansion.
No current hazards are marked at the site. However, historical wreckage could still exist near the south pier at Grand Haven, often buried or scattered.
Resources & Links
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The Thomas S. Skinner illustrates the hard-wearing, practical scow schooners that supported the 19th-century lumber economy on the Great Lakes. Her decade-long record of collisions, groundings, and coastal trade culminated in a final wreck on a cold November day in Grand Haven. A prime example of working Great Lakes sail freight enduring the risks of navigation, commerce, and weather.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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