Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Troy
- Type: Wooden schooner
- Year Built: 1843
- Builder: Conneaut, Ohio
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: ~122 old-style tons
- Location: East side of Manitou Island, Lake Michigan
- Coordinates: Not available
- Number of Masts: Two-masted
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Troy is classified as a wooden schooner, characterized by its two masts and single deck design.
Description
The Troy was built in 1843 in Conneaut, Ohio, and measured approximately 122 old-style tons. The vessel was primarily used for transporting cargo, including glass and wheat.
History
Shortly after her launch, the Troy encountered a violent storm in June 1843 while navigating Lake Michigan. The sudden weather change overwhelmed the vessel, leading to her loss.
Significant Incidents
- The Troy was wrecked in June 1843, driven ashore by a storm shortly after her launch.
- No fatalities were reported among the crew, who are presumed to have reached safety.
Final Disposition
The Troy was wrecked and subsequently lost, with reports indicating that she broke apart after being driven ashore on the east side of Manitou Island.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck site is characterized by shoreline wreckage, likely consisting of timber debris scattered across rocky reefs and shallow waters. Due to the severe breakup of the vessel, no intact sections are expected to remain.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”troy-1843″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Troy serves as a reminder of the navigational dangers faced by early 19th-century vessels on Lake Michigan, particularly during unpredictable storms.
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
- Vessel Name: Troy
- Year Built: 1843
- Built At: Conneaut, Ohio
- Vessel Type: Wooden schooner; two-masted with a single deck
- Tonnage: ~122 old-style tons
- Final Disposition: Wrecked; driven ashore and lost
- Date: June 1843 (likely within months of launch)
- Location: East side of Manitou Island, Lake Michigan
- Cargo at Loss: Glass, wheat
- Casualties: No records of fatalities — crew presumed safe
Circumstances of Loss
The Troy, loaded with glass and wheat, was navigating Lake Michigan shortly after her launch when a sudden storm struck in June 1843. Overwhelmed by violent waves, the vessel lost stability and was driven ashore on the east side of Manitou Island. The force of the storm caused her to break apart (“went to pieces”) shortly thereafter. There are no reports of crew fatalities, and the surviving crew likely reached the island or mainland safely given the absence of casualty records.
Wreck Site & Condition
- Site Conditions: Shoreline wreckage; likely timber debris strewn across rocky reefs and shallow waters near Manitou’s eastern shore.
- Wreck Remains: Given the vessel’s wooden construction and severe breakup, no intact sections are expected to remain; individual timbers may be buried under sediment.
Historical and Maritime Significance
- As a locally-built schooner launched and lost in the same season, Troy illustrates the perils of the unpredictable early-season storms on Lake Michigan.
- Her cargo—glass and wheat—speaks to the diversified freight transport by small schooners servicing both commercial and emerging frontier communities.
- Loss at Manitou Island underscores the navigational dangers for small freight vessels without modern navigation aids.
Keywords & Categories
- Region: Lake Michigan – Manitou Island (eastern side)
- Vessel Type: Wooden, two-masted schooner
- Cargo: Mixed—glass and wheat
- Cause of Loss: Foundering in storm; driven ashore
- Casualties: None recorded
- Year: 1843
- Wreck Status: Broken up—no documented remains; site unverified by dive or archaeological surveys
Sources & References
- History of the Great Lakes: schooner Troy loss near Manitou Island in June during a violent storm (linkstothepast.com, visitdrummondisland.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com, en.wikipedia.org)
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files: detailed narrative—mast failure, leak onset, Sheboygan attempt, grounding, and break-up (greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)