Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Wavertree
- Type: Wooden, Two-Masted Schooner
- Year Built: 1855
- Builder: Quayle & Martin, Cleveland, Ohio
- Dimensions: 128 ft (39 m) length × 26 ft (7.9 m) beam × 11 ft (3.4 m) depth
- Registered Tonnage: 343 tons
- Location: Off Black River, south of Thunder Bay, Lake Huron
- Coordinates: Not recorded
- Official Number: 26233
- Original Owners: Unknown (after renaming in 1865)
- Number of Masts: Two
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Wavertree was a wooden, two-masted schooner typical of Great Lakes cargo craft of the 1850s. Built at Cleveland by Quayle & Martin, she was rigged for bulk freight such as lumber, grain, and coal. Her construction reflected the mid-century transition toward larger, more seaworthy lake schooners capable of limited ocean passages.
Description
Launched in 1855 as R.H. Harmon, the vessel served in Great Lakes commerce before being renamed Wavertree in 1865. She primarily ran between Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan ports, hauling bulk commodities vital to regional industry.
A notable episode occurred in 1858 when the schooner reportedly sailed to Europe—a rare event for a Great Lakes vessel—suggesting she was modified or temporarily rigged for an Atlantic crossing. After returning to the lakes, Wavertree resumed cargo service until her reported loss in 1867.
History
Date of Loss: November 1867
Location: Off Black River, south of Thunder Bay, Lake Huron
Cause: Unreported; likely grounding or storm damage
The Wavertree was recorded as “lost” in late 1867. Accounts indicate she may have gone ashore in a storm near the Black River area, sustaining irreparable hull damage. By May 1868, she remained stranded on the beach and was sold for salvage. Reports in June 1868 confirm she was stripped and abandoned, marking her as a total loss.
Significant Incidents
- Reportedly sailed to Europe in 1858, a rare event for a Great Lakes vessel.
- Lost in November 1867, possibly due to grounding or storm damage.
- Stranded and sold for salvage in May 1868; stripped and abandoned by June 1868.
Final Disposition
The wreck was broken up and largely dismantled on the beach. Given subsequent salvage and weathering, little structural material is expected to survive. Iron fittings, fastenings, or ballast may persist in the near-shore sediments of the Black River area south of Thunder Bay.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern rediscovery has been reported. The Wavertree site is believed to have been accessible in 1868 for beach salvage operations, but any submerged remnants have not been catalogued by NOAA or the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Access: Shore or small boat launch (Black River Harbor area)
Entry Point: Black River, south of Thunder Bay (Northeast Michigan)
Conditions: Near-shore sand bottom; low visibility; seasonal ice and surf action
Depth Range: 0–20 ft (0–6 m) if any remains present
Emergency Contacts: USCG Station Alpena / NOAA Thunder Bay Sanctuary
Permits: Not required for shoreline search; archaeological work requires NOAA authorization
Dive Support: Available from Alpena or Harrisville charters
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”wavertree-us-26233-r-h-harmon” title=”References & Links”]
No casualty list recorded. No known graves identified for the crew of Wavertree. Researchers may consult Find A Grave or regional cemetery archives for possible connections.
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.
Lead Image
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
Description
The Wavertree was a wooden, two-masted schooner typical of Great Lakes cargo craft of the 1850s. Built at Cleveland by Quayle & Martin, she was rigged for bulk freight such as lumber, grain, and coal. Her construction reflected the mid-century transition toward larger, more seaworthy lake schooners capable of limited ocean passages.History
Launched in 1855 as R.H. Harmon, the vessel served in Great Lakes commerce before being renamed Wavertree in 1865. She primarily ran between Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan ports, hauling bulk commodities vital to regional industry. A notable episode occurred in 1858 when the schooner reportedly sailed to Europe—a rare event for a Great Lakes vessel—suggesting she was modified or temporarily rigged for an Atlantic crossing. After returning to the lakes, Wavertree resumed cargo service until her reported loss in 1867.Final Voyage and Loss
Date of Loss: November 1867 Location: Off Black River, south of Thunder Bay, Lake Huron Cause: Unreported; likely grounding or storm damage The Wavertree was recorded as “lost” in late 1867. Accounts indicate she may have gone ashore in a storm near the Black River area, sustaining irreparable hull damage. By May 1868, she remained stranded on the beach and was sold for salvage. Reports in June 1868 confirm she was stripped and abandoned, marking her as a total loss.Final Disposition
The wreck was broken up and largely dismantled on the beach. Given subsequent salvage and weathering, little structural material is expected to survive. Iron fittings, fastenings, or ballast may persist in the near-shore sediments of the Black River area south of Thunder Bay.Located By & Date Found
No modern rediscovery has been reported. The Wavertree site is believed to have been accessible in 1868 for beach salvage operations, but any submerged remnants have not been catalogued by NOAA or the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.Notmars & Advisories
None noted for this vicinity. The shoreline south of Thunder Bay is shallow and exposed to storm wave action, posing navigation hazards to small craft.Dive Information
Access: Shore or small boat launch (Black River Harbor area) Entry Point: Black River, south of Thunder Bay (Northeast Michigan) Conditions: Near-shore sand bottom; low visibility; seasonal ice and surf action Depth Range: 0–20 ft (0–6 m) if any remains present Emergency Contacts: USCG Station Alpena / NOAA Thunder Bay Sanctuary Permits: Not required for shoreline search; archaeological work requires NOAA authorization Dive Support: Available from Alpena or Harrisville chartersCrew & Casualty Memorials
No casualty list recorded. No known graves identified for the crew of Wavertree. Researchers may consult Find A Grave or regional cemetery archives for possible connections.Documented Statements & Extracts
“By June 1868 the schooner Wavertree was stripped and abandoned on the shore south of Thunder Bay, her timbers sold for salvage.” — Maritime History of the Great Lakes archives (circa 1868)
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Official Number 26233 appears in the U.S. registry for vessels built at Cleveland in 1855. Ownership changes in 1865 record her renaming from R.H. Harmon to Wavertree. Insurance records for 1867 show the policy cancelled as a total loss following her grounding (off Thunder Bay).Site Documentation & Imaging
No modern sonar or photogrammetry surveys are known. The area is within the survey range of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and future side-scan coverage could confirm the site.Image Gallery
Verification Status
The identity and loss of the schooner Wavertree (official no. 26233) are supported by contemporary registry entries and secondary accounts but lack modern site confirmation. The following repositories were consulted for cross-verification:- Historical Collections of the Great Lakes – BGSU
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Vessel History
- David Swayze’s Shipwreck Files
- NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
- Newspapers.com / Chronicling America – 1867–1868 search range
References
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes – Vessel Registry Entries, 1855–1868
- BGSU Historical Collections of the Great Lakes Vessel Database
- “Wavertree Lost Near Thunder Bay.” Detroit Advertiser and Tribune, Nov 1867 (archival reference)
- Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary – Shipwreck Archives