Cecelia


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Cecelia US No. 5548
Year
Built
Last
Year
Built At
Type
Length
Beam
Draft
Gross
Tons
Net
Tons
1868
1885
White Lake , MI
Barq
118.2
25.7
8.4
175.82
167.03

The Cecelia (US No. 5548) was originally built in White Lake, MI as a three-masted Barquantine. There are conflicting records as to who built it but most agree that John Gregory built her in Chicago on 16 September 1868. She was a tidy 118 feet long and had a gross weight of 176 tons. She was first owned by James Larsen & Co., of Chicago, Mr Larsen was also her captain. In April 1879 she was rebuilt as a schooner.


The Cecelia had a mishap in May of 1871 when she collided with a Chicago bridge and lost her mizzenmast and outfit.


Capt. Evans of the U.S. Treasury Department revenue cutter Andrew Johnson (US No. U.S.R.C.S.) recently rescued the barque Cecelia, of Chicago, stranded on the south end of Manitou Island on 14 October 1872. The vessel and cargo were valued at $40,000 or more. This makes the 20th vessel rescued within two years by Capt. Evans .


During September 1873, the schooner Prince Alfred (Canada No. 7406) received serious damage from a collision with the schooner Oriental, about 3 miles below Port Colborne, in the Welland Canal, and came to this city for repairs. She arrived Sunday evening, and is receiving attention at the hands of Messrs. Mills & Welch. The Oriental is the same craft that collided with and sunk the bark Cecelia at the head of the lake a few days since. Wreckers are engaged in raising the schooner Cecelia sunk a few days since at Pt. Pelee. The Cecelia had on board a cargo of wheat and was owned by Michelson of Chicago. She was valued at $14,000. The Coast Wrecking Co., which for the past few days has been engaged in raising the schr. Cecelia, sunk at Pt. Pelee passage, has accomplished that undertaking in a brief space of time. She was brought to the surface on Thursday and arrived at the drydock the next day.


On September 12, 1876 after she had finished loading starves at Wheatley’s dock below Point au Pelee, Ontario, a storm started and began dragging her anchors and was hurled by the wind and waves against the dock, damaging her quarter. Her bulkwards and cabin were washed away by the shifting of the astves and in order to prevent further damage she was scuttled and sunk in about nine feet of water. An agent of the Cecilia was at this port the day before negotiating for a tug and a pump. Her owner at the time was William Johnson of Chicago and he had her raised immediately.


After taking on a load of wood at Reynold’s Pier on September 9, 1885, the Cecelia anchored offshore to weather out a storm. Her anchors did not hold, and she was blown ashore just south of Reynold’s pier. Attempts to remove her were unsuccessful. The Cecelia was also owned by John Long, who now had two vessels wrecked in the same location. Hailed from Chicago. Stranded and wrecked in one of the most powerful storms of the decade. Her three anchors would not hold her against the gale. Hailed from Chicago and owned by Capt. John Long. Ashore in almost exactly the same spot on 24 Sep, 1884 – almost exactly a year earlier. She was valued at $4,000.

The wrecks of the Cecelia and Perry Hannah (US No. 11178) were found near Door County, WI at Reynold’s Pier in eight feet of water.


Date
Owner
Master
1868
James Larsen
James Larsen
1869
H. Mickelson
J. Wilson
1871
W. Johnson
T. Holly
1874
W. Johnson
J. Field
1879
W. Johnson
J. Field
1882
S. Marshall
UNK
1883
John Long
B. R. Smith
1884
Jane Long
UNK