Identification & Site Information

• Vessel Name: Libbie Nau
• Official Registration Number: 14808
• Date Built and Launched: Built in 1867 by John Gregory in Green Bay, Wisconsin
• Measurements: Length: 129 ft (39.3 m) Beam: 26.6 ft (8.1 m) Depth: 10 ft (3 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 231.54 tons
• Net Tonnage: 219.97 tons

Vessel Type

The Libbie Nau was a two-masted wooden Schooner designed for transporting bulk goods such as lumber, grain, and coal across the Great Lakes. Like many schooners of her time, she later transitioned to service as a Barge, reflecting the gradual decline of sail-powered freight as steam power became dominant in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Construction and Ownership

• Builder: John Gregory, a well-known shipbuilder from Green Bay, Wisconsin, recognized for his contributions to the Great Lakes Schooner fleet.

• Original Owner: G.N. Nau, based in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

• Hull Material: Wood

• Number of Decks: 1

History and Service Life

• 1867: The Libbie Nau was enrolled in Milwaukee on June 5, 1867, soon after her construction.

• 1870s: Ownership transitioned to Mark English and later to Nau & Peterson of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

• 1872: The vessel was involved in a collision with the Schooner White Squall in Lake Huron. The collision, which occurred 10 miles off Fish Point and 7 miles north of Tawas, Michigan, resulted in the sinking of the White Squall and the tragic loss of seven out of eight crew members aboard the White Squall. The Libbie Nau survived the incident, highlighting her robust construction.

• 1874: The vessel received a new Deck, a significant overhaul aimed at prolonging her service life.

• 1876: On June 8, the Libbie Nau became waterlogged off Menominee, Wisconsin. She was subsequently towed to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and placed in dry dock by the Tug Kitty Smoke on June 15 for repairs.

• 1880s to 1890s: The Schooner changed ownership multiple times, being operated out of Chicago, Illinois, under owners such as Niels Nelson, W.D. Hitchcock, and Thomas Williams. During this period, the vessel underwent general repairsand received new masts in 1880.

• 1900s: By 1908, the Libbie Nau was owned by Peter Halverson et al in Chicago. The vessel was eventually converted into a Barge by Thomas Isbell in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, in 1913, marking the end of her sailing career.

Final Disposition

In 1917, after 50 years of service, the Libbie Nau was Abandoned in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Her abandonment reflects the broader decline of wooden sailing vessels on the Great Lakes, as steel-hulled steamships and motorized freighters became the standard.

Notable Incident: Collision with White Squall (1872)

• Date: September 30, 1872

• Location: Lake Huron, 10 miles off Fish Point, 7 miles north of Tawas, Michigan

• Details: While being towed alongside other vessels by the Tug Prindiville, the Libbie Nau collided with the Schooner White Squall during a storm when the tow broke apart. The collision caused the White Squall to founder, and while the crew attempted to escape in a Yawl, seven out of eight crew members perished when their small boat capsized near shore. The Libbie Nau survived the incident, continuing her service for decades afterward.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return.

NOTMARs & Advisories

There are no specific navigational warnings related to the Libbie Nau, though the Sturgeon Bay area is known for its rich shipwreck history and remains a popular site for maritime exploration.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes

• Great Lakes Maritime Database

• David Swayze Shipwreck File

• Wisconsin Maritime Museum

Conclusion

The Libbie Nau’s 50-year service life reflects the evolution of Great Lakes shipping from the Schooner era to the age of steam. Built in 1867 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, she not only survived the 1872 collision with the ill-fated White Squall but continued to operate under various owners until being converted into a Barge in 1913. The vessel’s eventual abandonment in 1917 symbolizes the decline of wooden sailing vessels on the Great Lakes as technological advancements rendered them obsolete. The Libbie Nau remains a testament to the durability and importance of schooners in the history of Great Lakes commerce.

Suggested Keywords: Libbie Nau Schooner, Green Bay shipbuilding, Lake Huron shipwrecks, Great Lakes Schooner history, White Squall collision, Sturgeon Bay maritime history.

Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Huron, Wooden Schooners of the Great Lakes, Great Lakes Collisions, Sturgeon Bay Maritime History.

Glossary Terms: Tow Barge, Collision at Sea, Great Lakes Schooner, Lake Huron Maritime Disasters, Abandoned Vessels.