The Schooner Metropolis

Since our paddle out of Old Mission past the wreck I have found out a lot about it. It is the wreckage of the schooner Metropolis. The image above is a photograph taken of a painting done by either Duncan Corbett (her last captain) or his brother John (also a schooner captain). The person I got it from is very knowledgable about these boats in general and the Metropolis in particular, and he commented that the shape of the bow and the amount of rake in the masts may not be perfectly accurate, but otherwise it is likely a fair representation of what the Metropolis looked like when it sailed the Great Lakes.

The Metropolis was built in 1857 in Cleveland and measured 125' long, 28' wide, 11' depth. She sailed primarily between Chicago and Buffalo. She sailed for 29 years, a fairly long career, as the life of a schooner during that time was only 14 years. The Metropolis suffered her share of accidents and damages and underwent and three major repair sessions. Her last voyage started one afternoon in Elk Rapids, captained by Duncan Corbett, who maintained a house in Elk Rapids. Her cargo was pig iron and lumber and she was bound for Chicago. A few hours after departing she ran aground where she now lies, the captain unable to navigate due to the dark and a blinding snowstorm. The captain and crew made it ashore and no lives were lost. An attempt was made to salvage the ship but it proved to be impossible. The cargo was salvaged as well as most of the rigging. The ship was abandoned and eventually broke up in the winter storms. There is a vague report that a barn on the bluff above the wreckage site was built from lumber from the ship! I have a lot more information I intend to share to everyone but I wanted to get out at least the basics. The Metropolis' last voyage took place today, November 24th, 115 years ago, in 1886.

Erik Jensen