Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: William H. Craig
- Type: Three-masted schooner
- Year Built: 1857
- Builder: Ebenezer Merry & James Gay
- Dimensions: 140 ft (42.67 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 468 tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 3 m / 10 ft
- Location: South of Peninsula Point Lighthouse, Michigan, USA
- Coordinates: 45° 39.301′ N / 86° 58.199′ W
- Original Owners: J.W. Pomeroy
- Number of Masts: Three
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The William H. Craig was a wooden, three-masted schooner built to Welland Canal dimensions in 1857 for the grain trade of the upper Great Lakes. She measured 140 feet overall and was typical of mid-19th-century cargo carriers—broad-beamed, shallow-draft, and rigged for efficient handling under sail. Following the Civil War she shifted into the lucrative iron-ore trade from Escanaba, Michigan.
Description
The William H. Craig was a wooden, three-masted schooner built to Welland Canal dimensions in 1857 for the grain trade of the upper Great Lakes. She measured 140 feet overall and was typical of mid-19th-century cargo carriers—broad-beamed, shallow-draft, and rigged for efficient handling under sail. Following the Civil War she shifted into the lucrative iron-ore trade from Escanaba, Michigan.
History
Constructed at Milan, Ohio by shipwrights Ebenezer Merry and James Gay, the vessel entered service out of Chicago under the ownership of J.W. Pomeroy. For several seasons she ran grain cargoes between Lake Erie and upper-lake ports before being reassigned to ore transport from Escanaba to Cleveland.
Significant Incidents
In November 1869, under Captain Alexander McGraw, the William H. Craig departed Escanaba after sunset carrying 468 tons of iron ore bound for Cleveland. Although the Peninsula Point Light was lit, the captain misjudged the extent of the reef and the vessel struck hard aground with her bow high on the shallows. Efforts to lighten her by jettisoning cargo failed, and she remained fast. The Escanaba Tribune (9 December 1869) reported hopes for salvage if Bay de Noc froze early, but she was eventually declared a total loss. Her enrollment was surrendered on 23 November 1869 annotated “Vessel Lost.”
Final Disposition
The wreck lay forgotten for more than 150 years until a private survey team rediscovered it on 4 August 2025 during side-scan sonar operations off Peninsula Point Reef. The flattened hull lies bow to the southeast in shallow water, with the forward section missing and a debris field of iron ore spread down-slope into slightly deeper water.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Located 4 August 2025 by private surveyors using side-scan sonar on the western edge of Peninsula Point Reef, Lake Michigan. Shallow-reef hazard: vessels should approach from the west only. The wreck is visible from the surface in clear conditions. No active NOTMARs specific to the site are listed.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”william-h-craig-1857″ title=”References & Links”]
No loss of life recorded.
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
Other Names: None known
Official Number: —
Registry: U.S.
Vessel Type: Three-masted schooner
Builder: Ebenezer Merry & James Gay
Year Built: 1857
Construction Location: Milan, Ohio (USA)
Hull Material: Wood
Dimensions: 42.67 m (140 ft) — Welland Canal maximum
Cargo on Final Voyage: 468 tons iron ore (New York Mine)
Date of Loss: November 1869
Cause of Loss: Stranding on Peninsula Point Reef
Location: Lake Michigan — south of Peninsula Point Lighthouse, Michigan USA
Coordinates: 45° 39.301′ N / 86° 58.199′ W
Depth: 3–6 m (10–20 ft)
Owner at Loss: J.W. Pomeroy
Home Port: Chicago, Illinois USA
Description
The William H. Craig was a wooden, three-masted schooner built to Welland Canal dimensions in 1857 for the grain trade of the upper Great Lakes. She measured 140 feet overall and was typical of mid-19th-century cargo carriers—broad-beamed, shallow-draft, and rigged for efficient handling under sail. Following the Civil War she shifted into the lucrative iron-ore trade from Escanaba, Michigan.
History
Constructed at Milan, Ohio by shipwrights Ebenezer Merry and James Gay, the vessel entered service out of Chicago under the ownership of J.W. Pomeroy. For several seasons she ran grain cargoes between Lake Erie and upper-lake ports before being reassigned to ore transport from Escanaba to Cleveland.
Final Voyage and Loss
In November 1869, under Captain Alexander McGraw, the William H. Craig departed Escanaba after sunset carrying 468 tons of iron ore bound for Cleveland. Although the Peninsula Point Light was lit, the captain misjudged the extent of the reef and the vessel struck hard aground with her bow high on the shallows. Efforts to lighten her by jettisoning cargo failed, and she remained fast. The Escanaba Tribune (9 December 1869) reported hopes for salvage if Bay de Noc froze early, but she was eventually declared a total loss. Her enrollment was surrendered on 23 November 1869 annotated “Vessel Lost.”
Final Disposition
The wreck lay forgotten for more than 150 years until a private survey team rediscovered it on 4 August 2025 during side-scan sonar operations off Peninsula Point Reef. The flattened hull lies bow to the southeast in shallow water, with the forward section missing and a debris field of iron ore spread down-slope into slightly deeper water.
Located By & Date Found
Located 4 August 2025 by private surveyors using side-scan sonar on the western edge of Peninsula Point Reef, Lake Michigan.
Notmars & Advisories
Shallow-reef hazard: vessels should approach from the west only. The wreck is visible from the surface in clear conditions. No active NOTMARs specific to the site are listed.
Dive Information
- Access: Boat; approx. 7 mi run from Escanaba municipal pier
- Conditions: Shallow water; variable visibility; exposed site
- Depth Range: 3–6 m (10–20 ft)
- Coordinates: 45° 39.301′ N / 86° 58.199′ W
- Local Support: Escanaba charter & kayak operators
- Hazards: Rocky bottom; reef proximity
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No loss of life recorded.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The Craig is ashore on the Peninsula reef with her bow high out of the water. If Bay de Noc freezes over before the storms, she may be saved, but otherwise stands a poor chance.” — Escanaba Tribune, December 9 1869
Video Documentation
Produced By: Brendon Baillod — Great Lakes Shipwreck Research
Depth of Filming: 3–6 m (10–20 ft)
Platform: 4K Action ROV & Drone Survey Footage
Filming Location: Peninsula Point Reef, Lake Michigan
Preservation Status: Shallow wreckage, visible from surface in clear conditions
Usage Notes: © Brendon Baillod / Used with permission for educational and historical reference.
References
- Escanaba Tribune, December 9 1869.
- Private Surveyor Notes, 4 August 2025 Sonar Scan.
- Facebook Post — Brendon Baillod, 12 August 2025.
NOAA / WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None
Coordinates: 45° 39.301′ N / 86° 58.199′ W
Depth: 3–6 m (10–20 ft)
Location Description: South of Peninsula Point Lighthouse, Lake Michigan
Vessel Type: Three-masted schooner
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 42.67 m (140 ft)
Condition: Flattened hull; bow section missing; debris field present
Cause of Loss: Stranding on reef
Discovery Date: 4 August 2025
Discovered By: Private sonar survey team
Method: Side-scan sonar imaging
Legal Notes: State of Michigan Underwater Heritage protection applies
Hazards: Shallow reef
Permits Required: Artifact removal prohibited