Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Two Sisters
- Type: Wooden, two-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1883
- Builder: Whitmore Bros., Erin, Michigan
- Dimensions: Length: 70 ft (21.3 m); Beam: 18 ft (5.5 m); Depth of hold: 4 ft (1.2 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 34 GT
- Location: Forest Bay, Lake Huron
- Coordinates: Forest Bay, Lake Huron
- Official Number: 145340
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Two Sisters was a wooden, two-masted schooner, built in 1883 in Erin, Michigan, by Whitmore Bros.
Description
The Two Sisters was a small, wooden two-masted schooner, likely used for lumber, grain, or general cargo transport. Due to her shallow draft of 4 ft, she was well-suited for coastal and inland lake navigation, possibly serving ports in Michigan, Ontario, and Wisconsin.
She was part of a declining schooner fleet, as by the late 19th century, steamships had begun replacing sailing vessels for most cargo transport on the Great Lakes.
History
The Two Sisters was reportedly wrecked in a gale at Forest Bay, Lake Huron, sometime in 1899. Details of the incident are scarce, but she was likely stranded onshore and battered by waves, leading to her eventual destruction.
Her official documentation was surrendered at Port Huron on September 30, 1899, indicating she was considered a total loss by that date.
Significant Incidents
- September 3, 1889: The Two Sisters was reportedly struck by the steamer R.A. Seymour. Some sources suggest that the wreckage of the schooner had already sunk prior to this, meaning the steamer may have simply collided with debris from an earlier wreck.
Final Disposition
- Declared a total loss in 1899.
- No recorded salvage or wreck recovery efforts.
- No known modern discovery of her wreck.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No confirmed discovery of wreckage. The site may remain undocumented or deteriorated due to time and lake conditions.
Resources & Links
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The Two Sisters was a small schooner from the late schooner era, likely engaged in coastal trade on Lake Huron before she met her end in a storm near Forest Bay in 1899. The uncertainty surrounding her final moments, including the possibility of being struck by a steamer before sinking, adds an element of mystery to her fate. With no confirmed wreck discovery, she remains one of the many lost wooden schooners of the Great Lakes.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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