Shotline Diving

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Willard A. Smith US 80587

Explore the remains of the Willard A. Smith, a wooden schooner lost in 1893 during a storm in Horseshoe Bay, Wisconsin.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Willard A. Smith
  • Type: Wooden two-masted schooner
  • Year Built: 1875
  • Builder: B. Campbell
  • Dimensions: 65 × 17 × 6 ft (19.8 × 5.2 × 1.8 m); 44 gross / 42 net tons
  • Registered Tonnage: 44 gross / 42 net tons
  • Location: Horseshoe Bay, Wisconsin
  • Coordinates: Nil return; no confirmed GPS location.
  • Official Number: 80 587
  • Number of Masts: Two

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

A wooden two-masted schooner designed for canal-fed waters and coastal lake traffic, the Willard A. Smith was built to navigate the Great Lakes and rivers.

Description

The Willard A. Smith was a compact schooner with a relatively small hull measuring 65 feet in length. Her modest tonnage made her vulnerable to rapid weather changes, particularly near shorelines. This design was typical of mid-19th-century vessels adapted for both freight and river-lake interchange.

History

Constructed in 1875 by B. Campbell in Charlevoix, Michigan, the Willard A. Smith served in various capacities until her loss in 1893. She was primarily used for transporting wood, including pulpwood and cordwood.

Significant Incidents

  • Loss Date: 14 October 1893
  • Incident: While tied to Anderson’s Dock in Horseshoe Bay, the vessel was caught by a sudden west wind, which pushed her onto a lee shore. She was subsequently pounded by waves, leading to her moorings failing and her wrecking on the shore.
  • Casualties: No casualties were reported during the incident.

Final Disposition

The Willard A. Smith struck the beach and broke up on the lee shore of Horseshoe Bay. The wreck remained on or near the shoreline, but no modern dive surveys have confirmed its current condition.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No recent sonar surveys, GPS sites, or dive records have confirmed the wreck’s final position. It is likely that the remains are buried in the shallow surf zone or scattered along the shoreline.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”willard-a-smith-us-80587″ title=”References & Links”]

The Willard A. Smith, lost in a sudden gale on 14 October 1893, remains unlocated, with her remains possibly resting in shallow waters or along the shoreline. No technical surveys have confirmed her final resting place.

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

Final Voyage & Los

On 14 October 1893, while tied to Anderson’s Dock in Horseshoe Bay, Wisconsin, Willard A. Smith loaded wood and awaited departure in threatening weather. A sudden west wind pushed her onto a lee shore, where she was pounded mercilessly by waves. Her moorings failed and she was driven ashore and wrecked, pounded to pieces (wrecksite.eu, wisconsinshipwrecks.org).

Vessel Type & Description

A compact schooner built for canal-fed waters and coastal lake traffic. The relatively small hull (65 ft) and modest tonnage made her vulnerable during rapid weather changes near shorelines. She embodied the mid‑19th-century design adapted for both freight and river‑lake interchange.

Final Disposition & Wreck Site

  • Struck beach and broke up on the lee shore of Horseshoe Bay.
  • No casualties were reported during the incident.
  • The wreck remained on or near the shoreline; no modern dive surveys have been reported.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return. No recent sonar surveys, GPS sites, or dive records confirm the wreck’s final position. It likely remains buried in shallow surf zone or scattered along the shoreline.

Archival Context & Sources

Suggested Research Directions

  1. Local Newspaper Archives (Oct 1893):
    Baileys Harbor, Sturgeon Bay, Green Bay publications likely reported the wreck, damage extent, and salvage efforts.
  2. Tow and Shipping Logs:
    Leasing or owner documentation—possibly under local shipping associations in Charlevoix or Wisconsin—might identify plans, charter details, or salvage reports.
  3. Insurance or Underwriter Records:
    Great Lakes insurers from 1893 may hold brief loss assessments or hull evaluations, possibly listing estimated damages or recovery value.
  4. Shoreline Survey or Historical Mapping:
    A beach/shore survey or review of old shoreline maps may indicate if wreck debris impacted sand movement or shoreline erosion patterns.

Summary

Willard A. Smith, built in 1875, succumbed to a sudden October gale on 14 October 1893 in Horseshoe Bay, WI. Driven ashore and broken up while awaiting departure, the vessel was lost with no reported loss of life. Her remains remain unlocated but may still rest in shallow waters or shoreline debris zones. No inland dive or technical survey has yet confirmed her final resting place.

willard-a-smith-us-80587 1893-10-14 17:04:00