Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: William Crosthwaite
- Type: Schooner
- Year Built: 1866
- Builder: Crosthwaite
- Dimensions: 150 ft (45.72 m); Beam: 30.2 ft; Depth of hold: 11.8 ft
- Registered Tonnage: 371.81 gross tons / 353 net tons
- Location: Near Kelly’s Island, Lake Erie
- Official Number: 26217
- Original Owners: J. Kelderhouse, Buffalo, New York; Charles Bradley, Chicago, IL; A.J. McGraw; Lincoln; Charles Eastman; Shannon & Carey, Saginaw, MI
- Number of Masts: 3
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type: Schooner
Description
The William Crosthwaite was a wooden three-masted schooner built in 1866. It was primarily used for bulk freight trade across the Great Lakes, including coal, grain, and lumber.
History
The William Crosthwaite was enrolled at Detroit, MI, in 1866. Over the years, it changed ownership multiple times, operating under various owners and frequently being towed by steamers. It was involved in several incidents, including collisions and being icebound.
Significant Incidents
- 1867, Oct: Leaked and beached near Milwaukee, WI
- 1869, Jun: Damaged in collision with schooner Queen of the North, Lake Erie
- 1871, Dec: Icebound in Saginaw area, Lake Huron
- 1888, Apr 30: Sunk at Sailors’ Encampment, St. Mary’s River; later raised
- 1896, Sep 13: Sunk in collision with City of Mackinac; raised and repaired in Detroit
Final Disposition
The William Crosthwaite was lost on September 6, 1906, near Kelly’s Island, Lake Erie, due to a collision with her towing steamer Homer Warren while carrying a cargo of stone. The vessel was presumed unrecovered, and documents were surrendered on March 29, 1907, at Port Huron, MI.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the William Crosthwaite is considered a total loss and is presumed unrecovered. Its exact condition remains unknown.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”william-crosthwaite-us-26217″ title=”References & Links”]
The William Crosthwaite serves as a significant example of the operational history of wooden lake schooners in the Great Lakes, highlighting the challenges faced by such vessels during their service.
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.
Vessel Identification & Profile
- Name: William Crosthwaite
- Official Number: 26217
- Year Built: 1866
- Builder: Crosthwaite
- Build Location: West Bay City, Michigan
- Vessel Type: Schooner
- Hull Material: Wood
- Decks: 1
- Masts: 3
- Original Owner: J. Kelderhouse, Buffalo, New York
Dimensions
- Length: 150 ft
- Beam: 30.2 ft
- Depth: 11.8 ft
- Tonnage: 371.81 gross tons / 353 net tons
Ownership & Service History
- 1866: Enrolled at Detroit, MI
- 1867: Owned by Charles Bradley, Chicago, IL
- 1876–1879: Owned by A.J. McGraw and then Lincoln, both of Chicago
- 1883–1885: Operated in bulk freight trade (coal, grain, lumber) on Lake Erie and Lake Superior, frequently towed by other steamers
- 1887–1906: Ownership passed to Charles Eastman (1887) and then Shannon & Carey, Saginaw, MI (1906)
Incident Chronology
- 1867, Oct: Leaked and beached near Milwaukee, WI
- 1869, Jun: Damaged in collision with schooner Queen of the North, Lake Erie
- 1871, Dec: Icebound in Saginaw area, Lake Huron
- 1888, Apr 30: Sunk at Sailors’ Encampment, St. Mary’s River; later raised
- 1896, Sep 13: Sunk in collision with City of Mackinac; raised and repaired in Detroit
Final Disposition
- Date of Loss: September 6, 1906
- Location: Near Kelly’s Island, Lake Erie
- Cause: Collision with her towing steamer Homer Warren while bound for Alpena with a cargo of stone
- Documents Surrendered: March 29, 1907, at Port Huron, MI
Final Cargo & Conditions
- Cargo: Stone
- Casualties: Not documented
- Condition: Total loss; presumed unrecovered
Historical Significance
The William Crosthwaite was a durable three-masted schooner operating extensively across the Great Lakes for four decades. Her history includes repeated sinkings, collisions, and salvages. She exemplifies the lifespan and repeated rehabilitation of wooden lake schooners into the early 20th century. Her final wreck was the result of a collision with her own towing steamer, a not-uncommon fate for towed vessels of the era.
Sources & Collections
- C. Patrick Labadie Collection
- Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory
- Donald V. Baut
- Burton Collection
- Edward J. Dowling Collection, University of Detroit Mercy
- William MacDonald Collection, Dossin Great Lakes Museum
- Peter J. VanderLinden
Keywords and Categories
- Region: Lake Erie, Kelly’s Island
- Vessel Type: Schooner
- Cause of Loss: Collision with tow steamer
- Material: Wood
- Operational Period: 1866–1906
- Status: Presumed destroyed or unrecovered