Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Three Bells
- Type: Schooner, Wood, 2-mast
- Year Built: 1854
- Builder: F.N. Jones, Buffalo
- Dimensions: Length: 123 ft (37.5 m); Beam: 26 ft (7.9 m); Depth of hold: 10 ft (3.0 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 197 tons (178.8 metric tonnes)
- Location: Good Harbour, Michigan
- Official Number: 24643
- Number of Masts: 2
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Three Bells was a wooden two-masted schooner, designed for cargo transport across the Great Lakes.
Description
The Three Bells was built in 1854 by F.N. Jones in Buffalo, New York. Measuring 123 feet in length and weighing 197 tons, the vessel was used for transporting cargo, including lumber and timbers. At the time of her loss, the Three Bells was carrying a cargo of oak timbers. The schooner sank in a storm on December 1, 1884, in the waters off Good Harbour, Michigan.
History
The Three Bells was well-suited to the demands of the time, with a large cargo capacity and sturdy construction typical of 19th-century Great Lakes schooners. The vessel was primarily used for transporting timber and other goods across the Great Lakes.
Significant Incidents
- Lost in a storm on December 1, 1884, while carrying oak timbers.
- No loss of life among the five crew members.
Final Disposition
Despite the severity of the storm, none of the five crew members aboard the Three Bells were lost. The vessel’s wreckage was later found, with some debris recovered. These recovered pieces of wreckage were eventually preserved and are now on display at a restaurant in Northport, Michigan.
It is important to note that while this particular Three Bells sank in 1884, another vessel named Three Bells was reported lost on Lake Michigan in 1869, which should not be confused with this schooner.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the Three Bells is not currently accessible for diving, but remnants are preserved and displayed in Northport, Michigan, providing a connection to the maritime history of the region.
Resources & Links
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The Three Bells schooner’s wreck in Good Harbour in 1884 illustrates the dangers faced by vessels on the Great Lakes during storms. Fortunately, no lives were lost, and some wreckage remains as a unique connection to the maritime past of the region.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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