Schooner John B. Merrill
The three-masted schooner John B. Merrill was one of the finest sailing vessels of her time. Built in 1873 in Milwaukee, she quickly earned a reputation for speed and cargo capacity, carrying coal, grain, and bulk freight across the Great Lakes — and even bested rival schooners in a Buffalo-to-Milwaukee race in 1886.
The Wreck
After running aground at Cleveland in 1883 and sinking in a collision in 1892, her luck finally ran out on October 14, 1893. While being towed toward Marquette, the Merrill encountered a severe gale on northern Lake Huron. Near DeTour Passage, the towlines parted and the vessel grounded on an uncharted shoal south of Drummond Island — later named Holdridge Shoal. All nine crew members were rescued by local fishermen, but the ship and her cargo of coal were lost.
The Wreck Today
The John B. Merrill is the flagship dive site of the Drummond Island and DeTour Passage area. The hull is broken into three main sections, with impressive rigging artifacts, a capstan, deck windlass, sail winch, and the beautifully preserved name board still visible. An enormous anchor rests in shallower water at 35 feet, marking the top of the shoal. Together, the history, scale, and remarkably preserved artifacts make this an essential destination for Great Lakes divers.
- Built: 1873 · Milwaukee, WI
- Vessel Type: Three-masted schooner
- Cargo on Final Voyage: Coal
- Location: Holdridge Shoal, south of Drummond Island
- Water Depth: 35–85 feet
- Best For: Advanced divers & Great Lakes wreck enthusiasts
