Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

William H. Dunham US 80393

Explore the wreck of the William H. Dunham, a wooden schooner lost in a storm on Lake Michigan in 1902.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: WILLIAM H. DUNHAM
  • Type: Wooden Schooner
  • Year Built: 1873
  • Builder: Robinson, Eastmanville, Michigan
  • Dimensions: 116 ft (35.3 m); Beam: 24 ft (7.3 m); Depth of hold: 8 ft (2.4 m)
  • Registered Tonnage: 185 tons
  • Location: Near Duke's Creek, Michigan
  • Official Number: 80393
  • Original Owners: Unknown
  • Number of Masts: Multiple masts for sail power

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The WILLIAM H. DUNHAM was a wooden schooner, designed primarily for lumber transport across the Great Lakes. At 116 feet in length and 185 gross tons, the WILLIAM H. DUNHAM was a medium-sized schooner well-suited for the lumber trade in Michigan and Wisconsin waters.

Key Features of Great Lakes Lumber Schooners:

  • Carried timber and other bulk cargoes
  • Relied on multiple masts to harness Great Lakes winds
  • Often faced perilous conditions due to shifting cargo and storms
  • Schooner rigging allowed for maneuverability in shallow waters

Description

The WILLIAM H. DUNHAM served in lumber transport for nearly 30 years before meeting its fate in a storm on Lake Michigan in 1902.

History

Key Events in the Vessel’s History:

  • 1873: Built in Eastmanville, Michigan, a region known for Great Lakes shipbuilding.
  • 1902, December 31: Driven ashore near Duke’s Creek, Michigan, in a storm and wrecked beyond repair.

Significant Incidents

The WILLIAM H. DUNHAM was lost on December 31, 1902, when a storm forced it ashore near Duke’s Creek on Lake Michigan.

  • The schooner encountered heavy weather, while carrying a load of lumber.
  • Winds pushed the vessel toward shore, where it was driven onto the beach.
  • The vessel was so badly damaged that it could not be salvaged.
  • There is no confirmed record of loss of life, but early sources may be incomplete.

This wreck is one of many lumber schooners lost due to the unpredictable storms of the Great Lakes, which often resulted in ships being driven ashore and breaking apart.

Final Disposition

Nil return. There are no confirmed reports of the WILLIAM H. DUNHAM‘s wreck remains being discovered or documented.

Since it wrecked near shore, its remains have been scattered or buried under sand over time.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Nil return. No modern navigational hazards related to this wreck are reported near Duke’s Creek, Michigan.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The WILLIAM H. DUNHAM was a hardworking Great Lakes lumber schooner lost to a storm in 1902. With no salvage possible, it was left to the elements, breaking apart over time.