Lexington’s Sheldon’s Dock – Lost to the Great Storm of 1913

This real photo postcard captures Sheldon’s Dock in Lexington, Michigan, likely photographed around 1912. Operated by Frank and W.H. Sheldon, the dock served as a vital hub for freight and passenger service on Lake Huron, linked to the Thumb Navigation Company. The visible steamer with “Tickets Here” painted on the stern suggests it was a point of departure for lake excursions or ferry traffic.

Just a year after this image was taken, the dock was destroyed in November 1913 during the Great Lakes Storm of 1913—also known as the White Hurricane. This powerful system battered Michigan’s Thumb with hurricane-force winds, massive waves, and heavy snow, causing widespread destruction along the shoreline. Over 250 people died, and dozens of ships were lost across the Great Lakes.

Sheldon’s Dock never returned to service.