The schooner Detroit was built as the Canadian bark Mary Battle in Ontario. In the fall of 1884 the Mary Battle was wrecked on Keweenaw Point in Michigan. She was salvaged by S.A. Murphy who rebuilt and returned her to service in August of 1885 with the new name Detroit.
On November 4th, 1886 the schooner Detroit foundered 20 miles off of Sheboygan with a load of iron ore. The loss amounted to $15,000 and the captain and crew escaped in the ship's lifeboat.

Some reports list the accident location as Death's Door off Door County's Door Peninsula near Summer Island. She also has been reported as lost on Skillagalee Reef near Beaver island.