Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

West Side US 80115

Explore the story of the West Side, a wooden schooner lost in Lake Huron during a storm in 1906, with a remarkable crew rescue.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: West Side
  • Type: Schooner
  • Year Built: 1870
  • Builder: G. Goble, Oswego, New York
  • Dimensions: 138 ft (42.06 m); Beam 26 ft (7.92 m); Depth of hold 12 ft (3.66 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 324 tons
  • Location: 25 miles east of Thunder Bay Island, Michigan
  • Official Number: 80115
  • Number of Masts: 2-masted

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The West Side was a two-masted wooden schooner, a vessel type extensively used throughout the Great Lakes for transporting bulk commodities such as lumber, pulpwood, coal, and grain. Schooners like the West Side were known for their fore-and-aft rigging, which allowed for superior maneuverability in the often unpredictable winds of the Great Lakes. The vessel’s design made her well-suited for long-distance trade routes, particularly those involving the timber trade between Canada and the United States.

Description

Constructed in 1870 by G. Goble of Oswego, New York, the West Side measured 138 feet in length, with a 26-foot beam and a 12-foot depth of hold. Her gross tonnage of 324 tons reflected her substantial cargo capacity, particularly for pulpwood, a key material in the rapidly expanding paper industry of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Her wooden construction was typical of the era, crafted from durable timbers like oak and pine. Vessels like the West Side were crucial to the Great Lakes economy, transporting raw materials from northern forests to industrial centers in Ontario and the American Midwest.

History

The West Side had a long and eventful career spanning over three decades, during which she experienced numerous incidents, reflecting the perils of Great Lakes navigation.

Significant Incidents

  • 1873 – Ashore and Damaged Near Oswego: In November 1873, shortly after her launch, the West Side ran ashore near Oswego, New York, sustaining damage. She was repaired and returned to service, a testament to the resilience of her construction.
  • 1884 – Wrecked in the Welland Canal: In 1884, the vessel was involved in a wreck in the Welland Canal, sustaining heavy damage. Despite the severity of the incident, she was again salvaged and repaired, continuing her service in the timber trade.
  • 1906 – Stranded Near Parry Sound: Earlier in October 1906, the West Side stranded near Parry Sound, Ontario, causing further damage to the vessel. This incident likely weakened the vessel structurally, contributing to her eventual loss later that same month.

Final Disposition

The West Side was declared a total loss after foundering in Lake Huron. The vessel likely sank with her cargo of pulpwood, which may have initially provided some buoyancy but was insufficient to prevent her from ultimately going down. Given the depth and location of her sinking near Thunder Bay Island, parts of the wreck may still exist submerged in the lake.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Nil – No confirmed discovery of the wreck has been reported. However, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, known for its extensive collection of shipwrecks, may hold information about the potential location of the West Side‘s remains.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The West Side‘s story is emblematic of the perseverance and danger that defined Great Lakes shipping in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Despite surviving multiple wrecks and grounding incidents, the schooner ultimately succumbed to the ferocious storms of Lake Huron in 1906. The successful rescue of her crew highlights the resilience of maritime communities and the enduring legacy of vessels that braved the often unforgiving waters of the Great Lakes. Though her final resting place remains undiscovered, the West Side continues to be a part of the rich maritime heritage of Lake Huron and the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.